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Ex-commissioner for facial recognition tech joins Facewatch firm he approved (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 11 months ago by GreyShuck@feddit.uk to c/unitedkingdom@feddit.uk

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The recently-departed watchdog in charge of monitoring facial recognition technology has joined the private firm he controversially approved, paving the way for the mass roll-out of biometric surveillance cameras in high streets across the country.

In a move critics have dubbed an “outrageous conflict of interest”, Professor Fraser Sampson, former biometrics and surveillance camera commissioner, has joined Facewatch as a non-executive director.

Sampson left his watchdog role on 31 October, with Companies House records showing he was registered as a company director at Facewatch the following day, 1 November. Campaigners claim this might mean he was negotiating his Facewatch contract while in post, and have urged the advisory committee on business appointments to investigate if it may have “compromised his work in public office”. It is understood that the committee is currently considering the issue.

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[–] spacecowboy@sh.itjust.works 7 points 11 months ago (4 children)

They can’t hide the cables that power these. I encourage everyone to learn how to open davit doors (streetlight standards, pedestals, etc). Carry a couple pairs of nitrile gloves in your pocket for safety reasons. It’s flu season too; wear a mask if you feel ill.

[–] charlytune@mander.xyz 6 points 11 months ago

I still hold that a lot of the anti mask conspiracy theories were fuelled by those who have financial and political interests in facial recognition surveillance. I have no evidence to base this on, it just makes sense to me that they would be threatened by everyone suddenly masking up.

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