BSIA calls for clarification on future role of biometrics and surveillance

Professor Fraser Sampson, the current Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner, will remain in post until the end of October before the functions of the role are expected to be subsumed by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner as part of the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, which is proceeding through Parliament. As currently written, the Bill removes the need for the Government to publish a Surveillance Camera Code of Practice.

For its part, the BSIA has worked closely with the Office of the Surveillance Camera Commissioner since its formation in 2014. Tony Porter QPM, the inaugural Surveillance Camera Commissioner, welcomed the opportunity of engagement from the BSIA.

Indeed, the Trade Association went on to lead two of the key industry strands of work around the National Surveillance Camera Strategy for England and Wales. In this capacity, the BSIA engaged with other stakeholders to create several foundation documents, including the list of key recommended standards for use in video surveillance systems, a buyers’ toolkit, the passport to compliance and also a ‘Secure by Default’ self-certification scheme aimed squarely at manufacturers.

A great deal of this work is set to be ‘archived’ when the Office of the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner is closed. It’s also unclear as to how the transfer of the functions of the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner will be carried out in practice and whether or not engagement with industry practitioners will even be a consideration.

Disappointment and concern

Dave Wilkinson, director of technical services at the BSIA, explained: “We are both disappointed and concerned about the proposed abolition of the Office of the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner. Given the prolific emergence of biometric technologies associated with video surveillance, now is a crucial time for Government, industry and the independent Commissioner(s) to work together on ensuring that video surveillance is used appropriately, proportionately and, importantly, on an ethical basis.”

Wilkinson went on to comment: “On behalf of the security industry, we are asking for clarity on how the Government intends to fill the void. The Office of the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner has been a sterling example of a Government-private sector partnership with tangible outcomes of benefit to all. Any failure to continue in a similar vein would be detrimental to progress in terms of the future implementation of Codes of Conduct.”

In July, Professor Sampson wrote a letter to the National Security Inspectorate, the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board and IQ Verify to inform that the third party certification scheme aligned with the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice would close in July with the Home Office presently unable to commit to taking ownership of that scheme.

Guidance on biometric data

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is producing guidance on biometric data and biometric technologies. The first phase of this guidance (draft biometric data guidance) is now published for public consultation.

The second phase (focused on biometric classification and data protection) will include a call for evidence early next year. 

The ICO has been listening to views on biometrics to inform itswork in this area, including those offered by a British Youth Forum and from the Citizens’ Biometrics Council. 

The draft biometric data guidance explains how data protection law applies when using biometric data in biometric recognition systems.

The consultation is running from 18 August until 20 October.