Other Writing

Members of the European Parliament have rejected proposals that would permit tech companies to continue monitoring private messages.

The European Parliament [1] has rejected the proposed Chat Control measure, which aimed to implement automated scanning of private photos and text messages. The decision came down to a single vote, highlighting a narrow margin that prevented the ongoing mass surveillance of private communications by American technology firms. Following this decision, the...

The government in Cyprus has issued a reminder to organisations regarding the acceptance of digital documents, which include national ID cards and driving licences stored in the country's official digital identity app, Digital Citizen.

Digital documents are considered to have the same legal validity as their physical counterparts and are to be accepted unconditionally by all organisations, companies, and service providers in Cyprus, the Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy...

Domestic flights in the African nation Somalia will now require passengers to present their biometric ID cards.

The new system was launched at the domestic departure terminal of Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, with Mustafa Duhulow, [1] the Director General of the Immigration and Citizenship Agency, officiating the event, [2] according to Dawan Africa.The International Civil Aviation Organization or ICA reports that a new initiative aims to digitize the internal migration system...

A system characterised by the government as a digital convenience tool may, according to legislation proposed during its own consultation, be made searchable by law enforcement without the knowledge or consent of individuals. Meanwhile, the House of Lords votes in favour of facial recognition, leading to more potential government overreach.

The UK government has announced plans for a ‘more efficient and modern state’ [1] aiming to accelerate services and simplify identity verification through...

The ruling Labour party plans to proceed with its initiative to allow citizens to access public services via a unified government application as part of its digital ID scheme, which has attracted controversy.

Ministers are initiating a consultation on [1] a proposal that aims to enable individuals to verify their identity online. The proposed digital ID system could facilitate access to services such as free childcare vouchers, tax management, passports, and driving licenses, potentially...

The Victorian government is establishing identity infrastructure that begins at birth.

The state has [1] initiated a trial for digital birth certificates, transitioning paper documents into app-based credentials that connect newborns to a national digital identity system before they reach an age of understanding. The pilot programme operates through [2] the Service Victoria app, allowing parents to store their child's birth certificate digitally for kindergarten enrolment purposes.

Local...

Police in Liverpool employed live facial recognition technology during the football match between Everton and Manchester United.

Merseyside Police announced [1] that they would implement measures around Hill Dickinson Stadium, including visible patrols and plain-clothes officers, in anticipation of the upcoming Premier League match. The police intend to identify individuals sought for serious offenses or under court orders, claiming that the aim is to ensure safety for fans and the general...

Australian state governments are incorporating residents into facial recognition systems, presenting the initiative as an enhancement of convenience.

Australian states have introduced a digital ID system that lets individuals present a driver's licence or passport, which the system authenticates. It then captures a live selfie and compares the image with the photo on the document. Once the verification is successful, users receive a reusable credential for accessing state services online. This...

Northern Ireland is considering the possibility of enabling police to utilize facial recognition technology to create investigative leads through biometric matches, similar to the practices already observed in England and Wales.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland or PSNI has formed an internal Facial Recognition Governance Board to gather insights from live facial recognition initiatives implemented across the UK. Notable programmes under consideration include those carried out by London's...

ICE agents have been accused by the courts in Illinois of using facial recognition on minors who are US citizens without consent

A lawsuit filed [1] by the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago details an incident in which one agent reportedly enquired if the teenager can do a facial. The second agent then allegedly pointed a mobile phone at the teenage boy, seemingly taking a photo of his face. This incident, documented through sworn allegations rather than body camera footage, highlights...

Concerns have been raised as the United Kingdom partners with a controversial facial recognition company that has provided its technology to Israel for use in Gaza.

The implementation of facial recognition technology has sparked controversy, with reports indicating that similar software has been utilized in Gaza by the Israeli army to monitor and apprehend numerous Palestinian civilians at checkpoints. Shabana Mahmood who [1] is the Home Secretary has stated that police will significantly...

Sainsbury’s has announced the expansion of facial recognition technology in its UK stores in 2026.

Sainsbury's is set [1] to implement new technology in 5 additional stores, claiming it is part of its efforts to address crime, including anti-social behaviour and theft. The initiative [2] follows a trial that began in September 2025, when the technology was first introduced in 2 stores. Following the positive results from this trial, the supermarket plans to expand this installation in London....

Grocery chain Tesco is trialing new facial recognition technology in January across 40 stores in the UK for 10 weeks.

Tesco shoppers in specific areas of the UK will encounter new security protocols starting Monday 26 January, as the retailer implements a high-tech initiative. This 10-week trial [1] will utilize facial recognition technology across 40 stores across the nation; they believe this would help identify repeat offenders and safeguard staff amid an increase in retail crime.

During...

MyDigital ID is set to play a central role in Malaysian immigration as part of a significant implementation of the government's national digital ID initiative.

Malaysian citizens leaving the country must verify [1] their identities with MyDigital ID while using the National Integrated Immigration System mobile application. This requirement is part of a broader initiative to incorporate [2] MyDigital ID into various aspects of governance, society, and the economy. The government aims [3] to...

The rollout of Greece’s upgraded national ID card has been in progress for several months, with plans to make it compulsory for travel within the European Union.

The new digital ID, which is RFID-enabled, incorporates advanced features and includes a QR code, [1] as reported by Greek City Times. Following the issuance of new identity cards, citizens are required to update their information with various organizations to prevent disruptions in daily transactions. The Ministry recommends [2] that...

The Prime Minister will make cuts to other departments in the UK government to finance the digital ID scheme, meanwhile the Starmer announces that the legislation will not be mandatory for workers in a surprise U-turn.

The UK government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces the challenge of addressing the historical complexities associated [1] with Tony Blair’s early 2000s initiative to implement a national ID card. Government departments [2] are reportedly seeking savings or budget cuts to...

Lib Dem MP Liz Jarvis has opposed the mandatory digital ID scheme proposed by the UK government

Liz Jarvis [1] the MP for Eastleigh, has voiced her [2] concerns regarding the government's proposed digital ID scheme. She called on ministers to reconsider the proposal, contending that it would neither enhance public services nor tackle the nation's actual challenges. The Liberal Democrats [3] have a history of opposing ID card schemes, dating back to [4] the Blair administration in the 2000s.

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The Labour Party’s proposal to introduce digital IDs for newborn babies has raised concerns regarding their increasing surveillance infrastructure.

The proposal remains speculative, having surfaced in confidential ministerial discussions [1] detailed by The Times, yet it draws on established practices. The UK government reportedly views [2] Estonia's system, which provides each newborn [3] with a unique identification number upon registration, as a potential model. This approach has been...

A new policy is set to be implemented at US airports, which will collect facial recognition data from non-citizens entering and exiting the country.

[1] The Department of Homeland Security or DHS has announced a new measure aimed at reducing visa fraud, identifying criminals, detecting overstays, and preventing illegal re-entries. Under this initiative, visitors arriving in and departing from the United States will have their facial biometric data collected by [2] the US Customs and Border...

AI-driven surveillance is evolving from simply identifying suspects to monitoring everyday activities, transforming routine travel into a continuous flow of behavioral data.

Police forces in the UK are testing artificial intelligence systems capable of automatically monitoring and categorizing the movements of drivers through the extensive network of number plate recognition cameras. Internal documents acquired [1] by Liberty Investigates indicate that three of the nine regional organized...