King's Cross in London is using facial recognition technology to surveil the tens of thousands of visitors that frequent the site each day, and Canary Wharf is "considering" following suit.
According to a spokesperson for the privately owned area around King's Cross station, the 67-acre site in central London is using the technology "in the interest of public safety".
Canary Wharf Group is also looking into installing the technology, in a move likely to raise questions about the surveillance of privatised public space.
"Sophisticated systems" to protect privacy
Argent, the property developer for the King's Cross estate, claimed in a statement that this is "to ensure everyone who visits King's Cross has the best possible experience". "We use cameras around the site, as do many other developments and shopping centres, as well as transport nodes, sports clubs and other areas where large numbers of people gather," read the statement.
"These cameras use a number of detection and tracking methods, including facial recognition, but also have sophisticated systems in place to protect the privacy of the general public."

Argent has declined to respond to questions on the nature of these "sophisticated systems", including how many are in place, how the data is being used, and the name of the company who supplies them.
While the large city quarter is privately owned by Argent, it is widely used by the public, accomm...