Awareness of facial recognition technology is high, but knowledge about it is low, particularly with respect to the limitations of the technology. This warrants a more informed public debate about the deployment of facial recognition technology.

Consent is an important safeguard for many people, with nearly half of the public expressing the belief that they should be able to opt out of, or consent to, facial recognition technology. In practice, this and other safeguards are often missing. There is a need to review and clarify the legal framework for facial recognition and ensure it keeps apace with public expectations.

The normalisation of surveillance sparks concerns among people; however, a majority backs facial recognition technology when tangible public advantages are evident and sufficient protective measures are established. This underscores the need for increased resources devoted to testing and clearly communicating the potential societal gains stemming from these technological advancements.

Not everyone fully supports the idea of police using facial recognition technology without any conditions. Instead, the level of support depends on certain limitations being in place and the right protections being ensured. People want rules and safeguards to be followed to make sure the technology is used properly. This shows that people are looking for a careful and balanced approach that takes into account both the advantages and potential problems of using this technology.

The public does not trust the private sector to use facial recognition technology ethically, necessitating further dialogue between the public, private sector and policy-makers in order to understand and address this lack of trust.