The Metropolitan Police Federation has taken the unprecedented step of warning colleagues about the risks of taking work phones and other digital devices home - after the Metropolitan Police used intrusive AI Software to accuse officers of misconduct.
The Staff Association – which represents more than 30,000 frontline police officers in London – was not informed that the force would be using Palantir’s Artificial Intelligence to analyse the movements of cops in the capital.
The Federation has today (Monday) urgently contacted all colleagues and advised them to be “extremely cautious about carrying Metropolitan Police issued devices when off duty”.
It warned that the automated suspicion being placed on officers by the force will cause significant damage to morale and trust.
And the Federation will consider legal action against the force over the rights of officers to have private life under Article 8 of the Human Rights Act.
“Courageous colleagues across London do not deserve to be treated with this level of suspicion by their Big Brother Bosses,” said Matt Cane, General Secretary of the Metropolitan Police Federation.
“Police officers - like all people - have a right to a private life.
“Where is the transparency on this purge and the reassurance that the correct checks and balances are there on such a significant move?
“This use of AI will seriously damage the trust Metropolitan Police officers have in the force and ride a coach and horses through already plummeting morale.
“No one wants bad police officers in policing. The good, brave and hard-working officers we represent are the first to say that the small minority of officers who are not fit to serve should not be in the police service.
“But this use of AI to spy on our officers is not proportionate, just or proper. It’s an outrageous and unforgivable invasion of privacy.”
Matt added: “For several weeks, the Federation has known of Met’s intention to upgrade its Lawful Business Monitoring software, yet we were never informed that the upgrade would include the deployment of Palantir’s Artificial Intelligence.
“This continuous 24/7 geo-location tracking is highly intrusive and risks monitoring officers when they are off duty, on rest days, or at home. This presumption of wrongdoing and attack on officer’s personal lives is unacceptable.
“Many officers remain unaware of the full extent of this monitoring and how the AI system analyses their location data. There is a clear risk that this information could be misused to question overtime claims, sickness absence, performance, or conduct without proper factfinding or context.
“Overall, the draconian approach raises significant legal and privacy concerns regarding proportionality, GDPR compliance, and the right to private life under Article 8 of the Human Rights Act.”
Matt concluded: “The Federation now advises all members to be extremely cautious about carrying Metropolitan Police issued devices when off duty.
“The Federation is taking urgent legal advice on these matters and will issue further guidance to members in due course if required.”
