Western Australian Police Trial Live Facial Recognition Technology

Updated on 26 October 2026, the initiative involves deploying overt facial recognition technology in designated public areas to identify individuals on predetermined police alert lists.

The technology uses cameras to scan faces in real time, creating a biometric template that is compared against a list of persons of interest. When a potential match is detected, an alert is generated for police officers to review before deciding whether further action is necessary.

Police have outlined several safeguards for the trial, including clearly marked vehicles displaying LFR signage and human verification of potential matches. Where no match is identified, facial recognition data is automatically and immediately deleted, rather than being stored by Police.

WA Police have emphasised their commitment to transparency and maintaining public trust, recognising the legal, ethical and privacy considerations associated with biometric surveillance technologies.

For records and information management professionals, the trial highlights important questions surrounding biometric data governance, information security, retention and disposal, transparency and accountability. As facial recognition and other AI-enabled technologies become more widely adopted, clear governance frameworks and appropriate oversight will be essential to ensuring personal information is managed responsibly.

The initiative also reinforces the importance of balancing technological innovation with individual privacy rights and public confidence in how sensitive information is collected, used and protected.

Learn more on the Western Australian Government website