A new law change will give the police the ability to run facial recognition searches on a database containing images of Britain's 50 million driving licence holders.
The new rules are being quietly introduced by the Government, with security experts warning that drivers could be constantly monitored.
If the police wanted to identify a person’s name who has been caught on CCTV, the law changes would allow them to search driving licence records.
The controversial move is covered in a single clause of a new criminal justice bill, according to the Guardian.
The new plans could be rolled out through a criminal justice bill
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Privacy campaigners have highlighted serious concerns with the new laws, with some saying that drivers were being put in a permanent police lineup.
With the enormous driving licence database, the police would be able to match pictures on photocard licences to images from CCTV or social media.
Any rule changes to allow the police or the National Crime Agency (NCA) to use the UK’s driving licence records are not explicitly referenced in the bill.
This has prompted further criticism from privacy experts, with the Government being accused of “sneaking it under the radar”.
Professor Peter Fussey, a former independent reviewer of facial recognition software used by the Metropolitan police, expressed his concerns about the scrutiny involved with these systems.
Fussey, who is also a professor of sociology at the University of Essex, pointed to studies that have found that the technology was prone to falsely identifying black and Asian faces.
He said: “This constitutes another example of how facial recognition surveillance is becoming extended without clear limits or independent oversight of its use.
"The minister highlights how such technologies are useful and convenient.
"That police find such technologies useful or convenient is not sufficient justification to override the legal human rights protections they are also obliged to uphold.”
Once the criminal justice bill is enacted, Home Secretary James Cleverly must establish “driver information regulations” to enable any searches of driving licences.
The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 regulates the access to driving licence records with the police requiring a good cause relating to a contravention of road traffic acts to be able to look at them.
The new criminal justice bill contains an explanatory note that states: “Clause 21 clarifies who can access the driver data and enables regulations to provide for access to DVLA driver information for all policing or law enforcement purposes.”
Police forces have been using facial recognition technology in recent events at major public gatherings and protests.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Clause 21 in the criminal justice bill clarifies the law around safeguarding and accountability of police force’s use of DVLA records.
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There are fears that 50 million licence holders could be affected
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“It does not allow for automatic access to DVLA records for facial recognition. Any further developments would be subject to further engagement as the public would expect.”
