Police are using facial recognition technology in the town of Newquay this week, coinciding with Boardmasters Festival taking place nearby. However, officers have confirmed that the technology will not be deployed at the festival site itself, with its use limited to the surrounding area.
The move places facial recognition tools in close proximity to one of the UK's larger festival gatherings without extending surveillance to the event itself. Details on the specific systems being used, or the duration of their deployment, have not been disclosed in available reporting.
The presence of such technology near a major festival is likely to draw attention from attendees and privacy advocates alike, even as organisers and police maintain a clear boundary between the town's policing measures and the festival grounds.
