Railways: Security

Norman Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the deployment of facial recognition technology on railway property.

Paul Clark
The Department for Transport does not require the use of facial recognition technology on railway property. Along with other Departments, we are keeping this emerging technology under review. In future, it may have the potential to provide an additional tool to help protect the public. As with any such technology, however, its use for public protection would need to be proportionate and balanced with considerations of privacy. Any use would also need to be backed with appropriate safeguards and transparency for the public.