BILLY BREMNER MEMORIAL JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN

Facial Recognition in Scottish football and important reminder!

Date: 26th January 2025

Facial Recognition in Scottish football

 

In 2016 there was more than a passing interest by the SPFL to look at Facial Recognition technology at Scottish Football grounds. The SPFL / SFA even went as far as requesting around £4m of funding from the Scottish Government.

 

At the time your SFSA, they just a fledgling organisation stood up for fans and went toe to toe with the football authorities and suggested that the concept be kicked into touch.

It also coincided with Police trials of the system in Scotland and we were concerned that football would be used as an easy soft target.

Co Founder of the SFSA, Simon Barrow said the fans’ group is concerned by “a rushed move towards intrusive surveillance”.

He added: “There needs to be careful consultation with fans and clubs, alongside wider consideration of how to deal effectively and proportionately with threatening and insulting behaviour.

“The best way forward will involve working with the great majority of supporters who deplore such abuses, rather than making them feel under accusation themselves.” You can read more about it here:-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35356852

 

If we move the dial forward Football Fan in Wales objected Facial recognition technology has been rolled out twice in 2020 by South Wales Police for fixtures between Cardiff and Swansea, leading to anger and protest from supporters and civil liberty groups.

At a North London derby in October 2023 The decision to target football supporters for biometric identity checks treats them like potential criminals.

Live facial scanning turns public spaces into a police line-up, where members of the public are treated with suspicion and can be identified at will by police cameras.

We felt that given the developments below as reported by Big Brother Watch and the fact that this technology is starting to be rolled out at Sports Stadiums in the USA for the NFL season we wanted to remind you that the SFSA remains vigilant on this subject and what it might mean for supporters in Scotland. There are reports that Manchester City and Danish side Bronby are considering this technology to improve the fan experience and improve security.  Given the global ownership of clubs it shows once again that when America sneezes Europe often catches a cold so don’t be surprised if this is back on the agenda soon.

https://welcometobora.com/blog/privacy-rights-groups-warn-against-the-use-of-automated-facial-recognition-in-football-fields-across-europe/

When the SPFL raised the opportunity in 2016 it coincided with Police trials of the system in Scotland and we were concerned that football would be used as an easy soft target. Police Scotland assured us that they had no plans to implement such a system in Scotland. We have not seen anything to suggested that position has changed but given the developments elsewhere and the problems around pyrotechnics there may be calls for this too be looked at again. At the SFSA we will keep a watching brief on your behalf, just in case that position changes

 

 

 

Big Bother watch

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhLEhmhWYsw&feature=youtu.be

 

NFL roll out of

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zOJ-2tpuMo


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