Police secretly scanning passport photo database

[ChemicalChaos]

It seems it's another day, another depressingly predictable example of brazen state overreach with little to no fightback...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/08/07/po...

Edited by ChemicalChaos on Friday 8th August 10:03

[untakenname]

Assumed that was one of the datasets where they get the library for the AI detection that's now common place in towns.

I remember back in early 2000's the armed police were called when someone visited a pub that had passport/drivers licence entry requirement, he looked a lot like someone else who was a high profile wanted fugitive so they had the tech twenty years back.

[grumbledoak]

Oh we are surprised. Not.

But if you argue against increasing government surveillance "to protect the children" or digital ID you're a CoNSpiRacy ThEoRiSt.

[Countdown]

https://archive.ph/cEg6q

A quicker / cheaper way of catching scrotes? Fine with me.

[ChevronB19]

Countdown said:

https://archive.ph/cEg6q

A quicker / cheaper way of catching scrotes? Fine with me.

And you believe it is/will be 100% accurate and never used for nefarious purposes? Still, you can’t un-invent something, but you can control its use.

[Boringvolvodriver]

Countdown said:

https://archive.ph/cEg6q

A quicker / cheaper way of catching scrotes? Fine with me.

Until the system has a bit of a blip and the police come knocking at your door because your passport photo is very similar to said scrote………….

[BikeBikeBIke]

Countdown said:

https://archive.ph/cEg6q

A quicker / cheaper way of catching scrotes? Fine with me.

Me too. Less effective but no different to searching DNA.

[ChevronB19]

BikeBikeBIke said:

Countdown said:

https://archive.ph/cEg6q

A quicker / cheaper way of catching scrotes? Fine with me.

Me too. Less effective but no different to searching DNA.

DNA tends to be pretty accurate. So far, facial ID has tended not to be.

[Greendubber]

Boringvolvodriver said:

Countdown said:

https://archive.ph/cEg6q

A quicker / cheaper way of catching scrotes? Fine with me.

Until the system has a bit of a blip and the police come knocking at your door because your passport photo is very similar to said scrote………….

Which presumably would be sorted out in about 2 minutes after a conversation.

[Countdown]

ChevronB19 said:

Countdown said:

https://archive.ph/cEg6q

A quicker / cheaper way of catching scrotes? Fine with me.

And you believe it is/will be 100% accurate and never used for nefarious purposes? Still, you can’t un-invent something, but you can control its use.

I can't think of many things that are either 100% accurate or never used for nefarious purposes. Look at the abuse of PNC checks for example. But I do think, on balance, that the benefits outweigh the risks.

[sugerbear]

ChevronB19 said:

Countdown said:

https://archive.ph/cEg6q

A quicker / cheaper way of catching scrotes? Fine with me.

And you believe it is/will be 100% accurate and never used for nefarious purposes? Still, you can’t un-invent something, but you can control its use.

I am intrigued to know what nefarious purposes they could use it for?

I assume they have a database of suspects photos and they will use the passport data to attempt to match those. Sounds like the kind of joined up thinking that the taxpayer needs.

Think of all those pictures of phone thefts in central London where they have a suspects picture but no clue who they are? And on. the other side you have a massive database of peoples faces on their passport and driving licence.

It's almost like some people dont want to reduce crime !

[Countdown]

Boringvolvodriver said:

Countdown said:

https://archive.ph/cEg6q

A quicker / cheaper way of catching scrotes? Fine with me.

Until the system has a bit of a blip and the police come knocking at your door because your passport photo is very similar to said scrote………….

Isn't the risk of incorrect identification already there using current systems?

As has been mentioned already it should be fairly easy to resolve any issues that come up and if it results in a significantly greater identification, arrest and prosecution of offenders I'm in favour

[Gareth79]

Greendubber said:

Boringvolvodriver said:

Countdown said:

https://archive.ph/cEg6q

A quicker / cheaper way of catching scrotes? Fine with me.

Until the system has a bit of a blip and the police come knocking at your door because your passport photo is very similar to said scrote………….

Which presumably would be sorted out in about 2 minutes after a conversation.

Optimistic. "Where were you at 8pm on the 16th May?". "Um I think at home?". "Can you prove that?. "Uh, probably, I'd need to check my phone". "There'll be time for that later down the station".

[Countdown]

I do think there is a potential loophole;

Given that you're not allowed to smile, wear glasses, or any headgear on a passport picture all the scrotes need to do is wear glasses, a beanie hat and walk around with a permanent rictus grin to avoid being id'ed

[Terminator X]

ChemicalChaos said:

It seems it's another day, another depressingly predictable example of brazen state overreach with little to no fightback...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/08/07/po...

Edited by ChemicalChaos on Friday 8th August 10:03

So first we had CCTV for our protection. Then they used it to issue yellow box junction fines etc. Then anpr came along and automatic fines issued in their millions. Now we have facial recognition, don't worry all the data is safe; now the police using passport facial database that I assumed was private!

Also "Liberty Investigates can reveal the practice has been secretly taking place since at least 2019"

Well troden path of introducing something new then abusing it.

You listen to people on here though, ah if you've done nothing wrong don't worry ...

TX.

[Countdown]

Terminator X said:

So first we had CCTV for our protection. Then they used it to issue yellow box junction fines etc. Then anpr came along and automatic fines issued in their millions. Now we have facial recognition, don't worry all the data is safe; now the police using passport facial database that I assumed was private!

Well troden path of introducing something new then abusing it.

You listen to people on here though, ah if you've done nothing wrong don't worry ...

TX.

I don't think catching people breaking laws is an abuse of the technology. If people don't like the law then campaign to get the law changed rather than make it more expensive to enforce the law.

[M1AGM]

Countdown said:

I don't think catching people breaking laws is an abuse of the technology. If people don't like the law then campaign to get the law changed rather than make it more expensive to enforce the law.

Thats the point. There is no new law permitting this. There is no recourse or oversight. I completely agree with your comments but if we are going to be using this tech to catch scum thats great, but it needs to go through the democratic process not imposed by the state as their will.

[jfdi]

Countdown said:

I don't think catching people breaking laws is an abuse of the technology. If people don't like the law then campaign to get the law changed rather than make it more expensive to enforce the law.

What about those laws that are introduced without any oversight where you must stay at home for your own safety, in case you catch a cold. It'll be useful for catching those criminals.

[Chrisgr31]

Used on less than 500 cases a year. Sounds like most of us don’t need to worry

[BikeBikeBIke]

ChevronB19 said:

BikeBikeBIke said:

Countdown said:

https://archive.ph/cEg6q

A quicker / cheaper way of catching scrotes? Fine with me.

Me too. Less effective but no different to searching DNA.

DNA tends to be pretty accurate. So far, facial ID has tended not to be.

Hence "less effective".