Home Office kept police facial recognition flaws to itself, UK data watchdog fumes

The UK ICO criticized the Home Office for not disclosing historical bias in police retrospective facial recognition algorithms, following NPL tests that showed demographic disparities in Cognitec’s performance under strict thresholds while a newer Idemia model performed near-perfectly. The Home Office has procured the new algorithm for testing, reissued guidance, and requested an inspection into police use of facial recognition, amid ongoing concerns about bias and public trust.