Tony Kounnis, CEO of Face Int UK
Facial recognition technology (FRT) has taken notable strides over recent years, moving from relative obscurity into the mainstream. Throughout 2026 the technology’s use has continued to expand.
An increasing number of police forces have adopted the technology to identify wanted individuals, while supermarkets are using it to detect known shoplifters. Although media coverage has focused mainly on law enforcement and surveillance more broadly, FRT is now being used much more widely in other industries.
For instance, FRT is being deployed in gyms, care homes, schools and hospitality venues, ensuring secure access to facilities. Whereas codes and access cards in the past could easily be shared or compromised, building security infrastructure based on biometrics means only vetted and approved personnel can enter.
We are seeing similar trends in the personal technology we use on a daily basis, such as face-scanning to unlock laptops, smartphones and banking apps.
This growth is unlikely to slow down. In June, the Government announced an investment of £140m in AI technology in policing – some of which will be dedicated to 40 more live facial recognition units – alongside the launch of PoliceAI, a national centre dedicated to developing, piloting and scaling AI in policing. Indeed, FRT is set to be rolled out in some of the UK’s busiest areas, such as London’s Soho and West End – including its soon-to-be pedestrianised Oxford Street – by the end of the year.
The proliferation of FRT presents significant opportunities, both for organisations deploying it and the people who interact with it. Used effectively, FRT can help identify wanted individuals, improve security, and make processes quicker and more convenient. But, as the adoption of FRT grows, it becomes even more crucial that the technology is developed, regulated and deployed responsibly.
And this is the ideal time to be having this conversation. As the Government prepares for the Autumn Budget, it has an opportunity to demonstrate how the UK can strike the right balance: putting FRT safeguards in place to protect the public and their biometric data, while creating an environment in which new technologies can continue to develop and deliver benefits for organisations, individuals and society.
Facial recognition must be part of the AI conversation
AI has skyrocketed up the political and business agenda since the start of 2024, and debate around the technology has intensified further over the last few months with several high-profile incidents that have raised questions about AI safety. But while much of the discussion has understandably centred on generative AI and the rapid development of increasingly powerful models, the debate must extend to other systems which utilise AI, including facial recognition.
As an AI-enabled biometric technology, facial recognition uses AI to analyse facial characteristics and compare them with other images. Unlike many AI applications, FRT increasingly interacts directly with people in the physical world, where inaccurate identification or poor handling of biometric data can have serious consequences.
To be clear, this is not an argument against innovation. The UK should be creating an environment in which businesses can develop new technologies, organisations can adopt them and the public sector can take advantage of tools that help it operate more effectively.
However, as FRT becomes more commonplace, those deploying and developing it need to demonstrate that systems are accurate, safe and used responsibly. Doing so will be essential to building public trust in FRT.
But the sector also needs clearer regulation and guidance from the Government to ensure appropriate standards are applied consistently.
Data privacy must be at the heart of deployment
There are countless questions that those subject to facial recognition may have about what’s happening with their data. What information is being captured? Is it being stored and, if so, for how long? Who has access to it? Can it be shared with another organisation?
Organisations deploying FRT have a responsibility to answer these questions clearly.
Face Int UK’s independent survey of 2,000 UK adults demonstrates why. While 73% support the use of facial recognition by police, 61% worry that errors could get people into trouble for things they have not done. More than half, 57%, are concerned about how images of their face are stored.
This shows that support for FRT is nuanced. Acceptance depends largely on who is deploying the technology, why and how it is being used, and what happens to the data.
Technical accuracy is an important part of addressing these concerns, and organisations must demonstrate that their technology performs accurately and consistently across different demographic groups.
But accuracy alone does not equate to responsible deployment. Privacy must be considered from the moment a system is designed, rather than layered on top afterwards. Organisations should minimise the biometric data they collect and retain, while putting appropriate measures in place to keep it secure.
Crucially, people need to be given information about why FRT is being used, how it works and what safeguards are in place. Transparency is essential to building public confidence in the technology as deployment increases.
Clear rules can support innovation
Regulation need not be a barrier to innovation, provided it is clear and proportionate. In fact, it can provide certainty to organisations developing and investing in technologies, and give confidence to the public that they are protected through legislation.
The Government has already acknowledged that the existing framework governing law enforcement use of facial recognition is complicated, having completed a consultation on a new framework on law enforcement use of biometrics and facial recognition earlier this year.
This is an important step towards providing greater clarity around police FRT use, but the challenge extends beyond policing. As facial recognition becomes more common across the private sector, the Government needs to consider how its wider approach to AI and emerging technologies is keeping pace with how those technologies are actually being used in practice.
But responsibility cannot rest with the Government alone. Those developing the technology have a responsibility to design it with privacy and security embedded from the start. Those deploying it have a responsibility to use it transparently and responsibly. Both should be prepared to demonstrate that systems are accurate, secure and appropriate for the purpose for which they are being used.
An opportunity to set the direction
The Autumn Budget will inevitably involve difficult decisions about how the Government directs its resources. While it must balance spending and taxes, the Budget will also help shape the type of economy the Government wants to create.
The UK has made clear its ambition to capitalise on AI and emerging technologies, as outlined in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy and AI Opportunities Action Plan. Technology has the potential to improve productivity, strengthen public services, enhance security and support economic growth.
For facial recognition, 2026 has demonstrated just how quickly the landscape is changing. The technology is becoming increasingly visible in public spaces and everyday settings, while its potential applications continue to grow.
The challenge now is ensuring that policy keeps pace: so far, it has not. The Budget will not answer every question about the future of FRT, nor should it. Policy must be developed in partnership with stakeholders.
What the Budget must do is set the tone for its wider approach to AI and emerging technology: one that recognises its potential and gives responsible developers and organisations the confidence to invest, as well as one that ensures appropriate safeguards are in place to protect the public.
If 2026 has been the year in which FRT became significantly more visible, 2027 should be the year in which its continued expansion is matched by the safeguards needed to keep people and their data safe.