Meadowhall shoppers scanned with facial recognition cameras
A trial was run at the shopping centre last year
Last updated 16th Aug 2019
Campaigners say it's "deeply disturbing" that controversial facial recognition technology's been used at Meadowhall.
Civil liberties group Big Brother Watch found the shopping centre was one of a number of sites across the UK to trial the scanners last year, including museums and conference centres.
The technology's been criticised for invading people's privacy - the group have called it an "epidemic" that's "deeply distrurbing".
It comes after the the Information Comissinoners Office announced it's launching an investigation into the use of the cameras after it was revealed scanners were being used in the King's Cross area of London.
Big Brother Watch chief executive Silkie Carlo said increasing use of the technology was placing personal privacy at risk.
"There is an epidemic of facial recognition in the UK
"The collusion between police and private companies in building these surveillance nets around popular spaces is deeply disturbing. Facial recognition is the perfect tool of oppression and the widespread use we've found indicates we're facing a privacy emergency.
"We now know that many millions of innocent people will have had their faces scanned with this surveillance without knowing about it, whether by police or by private companies."
The group's investigation reported that the Meadowhall shopping centre carried out a trial last year and the site's owner British Land also has sites in parts of London including Paddington, Broadgate, Canada Water and Ealing Broadway.
A British Land spokeswoman said:
"We do not operate facial recognition at any of our assets.
"However, over a year ago we conducted a short trial at Meadowhall, in conjunction with the police, and all data was deleted immediately after the trial."