.png)
Sheffield Wednesday supporters have voiced strong opposition to reported plans for facial recognition technology (FRT) at Hillsborough this season, describing the move as a “potential infringement of supporters' rights.”
The Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust said in an open letter to the club’s Data Protection Officer that it was “deeply concerned” to discover the possible introduction of FRT at home games, claiming it only learned of the proposal “from SAG (Safety Advisory Group) meeting minutes obtained by an FOI request.”
“The use of FRT raises significant legal, regulatory and ethical concerns. It is vital, therefore, that Sheffield Wednesday is transparent with fans regarding any planned deployment of this technology ahead of time,” the statement read.
On social media, the Trust accused the club of misplaced priorities, saying it was “appalled that the club has prioritised spending money on this while failing to carry out essential North Stand repairs.” The North Stand has been closed since 29 July due to ongoing financial problems.
With Sheffield Wednesday still under a transfer embargo, the Trust also asked how much the club has “spent on exploring the deployment of FRT to date” and “how costs incurred to date [have] been funded.”
The Trust also demanded an immediate halt to any FRT rollout at Hillsborough until “transparent and meaningful dialogue has taken place at a national level with fans, leagues, the FA, civil rights groups and the Information Commissioner’s Office on its legality and privacy concerns.”
Away from this controversy, club owner Dejphon Chansiri continues to face criticism over his stewardship since buying Sheffield Wednesday in 2015. Although he put the club up for sale in 2018, no offers have been accepted. Former Crystal Palace and Lyon owner John Textor has signalled recent interest.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram / @swfcofficial, Unsplash / Toni Cuenca
