As the Metropolitan Police starts using live facial recognition software on the streets of London, we discuss whether we should fear the creep of surveillance or welcome it as a tool to keep us safe. Our first guest is Karen Cummings from the Liverpool Centre for Advanced Policing.

We then ask whether humans are as effective as machines when it comes to recognising faces. Dr Sarah Shrimpton and Dr Jessica Liu from LJMU’s Face Lab talk us through the fascinating world of facial identification, recognition and age progression software.

Links

Case study: Aric Austin age progression images

Case study: Jaycee Dugard age progression images

The 1823 Podcast team