Large scale public attitudes research towards biometric technologies combining deliberative focus groups and a nationally representative survey. 

This research was commissioned by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to update understanding of public attitudes towards biometric technologies, with a particular focus on facial recognition technology (FRT) and its use by police.

As biometric data is classified as special category data subject to strict data protection requirements, understanding public perceptions is vital for ensuring that future regulatory approaches take into account societal expectations.

The study employed a mixed-methods approach, beginning with qualitative focus groups across all four nations, including both remote sessions in each nation and in-person groups with Muslim women, individuals with experience of the criminal justice system, and digitally excluded people. This was followed by a quantitative survey with 3,216 respondents, including boost samples in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to enable nation-level analysis.