London Police to Expand Drones and Facial Recognition

London Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley announced a massive expansion of the use of drones and facial recognition technology throughout the capital, Euronews reported. He warned that crime is evolving at a dizzying pace.

"They are using smarter, faster and more connected tools than ever before", he said, adding that police must therefore implement new technologies without delay. He also called for a relaxation of existing legislative restrictions.

The Metropolitan Police plans to cover all of London's boroughs with drones by June 2027. In collaboration with firefighters and emergency responders, the force aims to build a citywide network to track suspects or search for missing persons.

The police, who have already arrested more than 2,000 people since 2024 using facial recognition software, will also install fixed cameras directly attached to street infrastructure. These cameras will be dynamically repositioned to areas with the highest crime rates.

The plans, however, immediately faced harsh criticism from the British civil liberties organization Big Brother Watch. The group described facial recognition systems as intrusive, discriminatory and undemocratic, arguing that their deployment is out of control. Many NGOs had previously warned that the technologies infringe on the privacy and security of even those who are not criminals.

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