Correspondence

Commissioning letter to the Biometrics and Forensics Ethics Group 2022/2023

Published 11 November 2022

© Crown copyright 2022

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/biometrics-and-forensics-ethics-group-commission-2022-to-2023/commissioning-letter-to-the-biometrics-and-forensics-ethics-group-20222023

Dear Mark,

Biometrics and Forensics Ethics Group (BFEG): 2022/2023 commission

Thank you for your suggestions regarding this year’s commission and for the BFEG’s contribution to Home Office policy development over the past 12 months.

This year we would like existing sub-groups to continue their work on:

  • the Home Office biometrics programme

  • Home Office projects using advanced data processing techniques and/or large and complex datasets

  • policy relating to the collection, use, retention and deletion of biometrics and digital forensics material

We also expect the Forensic Information Databases Strategy Board to continue to request ad hoc advice on forensic information and database policy and projects.

In addition to the group’s ongoing provision of advice regarding the Home Office biometrics programme; large and complex data sets and a range of other issues, we would like the group to:

  • Support policy development regarding the governance of powerful data driven technologies in the Home Office. This will include assessment of the application of ethics to specific projects and encompass some of the themes in the House of Lords’ Justice and Home Affairs Committee report: ‘Technology rules? The advent of new technologies in the justice system’.

  • Provide advice on the ethical issues in the use of novel biometric technologies, including gait and voice recognition. It would be particularly useful if the group could consider applications where multiple technologies could be combined to create additional surveillance capability.

I look forward to continuing to work with you and the group and thank you for your wisdom and insights.

Yours sincerely,

Alex Macdonald

Back to top