FOI release

Response: National Physical Laboratory facial recognition suppliers

Published 17 July 2024

Reference number FOI2024-00010
Date of request 3 July 2024
Date of response 17 July 2024
Outcome Information disclosed

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (the department) received the following request for information which we responded to under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA):

The names of the facial regonition technology (supplier(s)/vendor(s)) the National Physical Laboratory has previously tested.

The names of the facial regonition technology (supplier(s)/vendor(s)) the National Physical Laboratory has previously used.

The names of the facial regonition technology (supplier(s)/vendor(s)) the National Physical Laboratory currently uses.

Has the National Physical Laboratory ever tested or used Amazon’s Rekognition facial recognition technology? If so, please include the dates e.g. start and end dates, or start date and continuous use up to present day If possible, please confirm whether each of the above were with the Metropolitan Police Service (the Met) and South Wales Police (SWP).

In addition to this, if it is possible to do so without exceeding cost or time limits or exemptions, please also provide details of any and all contract(s) with Amazon for its Rekognition facial recognition technology, including the start date of any such contract(s) and whether contract(s) with Amazon for the use of its Rekognition technology have been altered, or new contract(s) for the technology have been signed, since 10th June 2020

Our response

We can confirm that the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) does not hold any information in scope of your request. You may wish to redirect your request to the National Physical Laboratory. Their email is: [email protected].