WATCHDOGS are to examine around 500 instances when Police Scotland used controversial facial recognition technology in a bid to identify images of people caught on CCTV, mobile phones or uniform-mounted cameras.
HM Inspector of Constabulary will conduct a case-by-case review of the practice, which has raised fears about civil liberties.
The watchdog was ordered to investigate by Justice Secretary Michael Matheson after the Scottish Lib Dems used Freedom of Information laws to reveal the extent of Police Scotland's use of facial recognition technology and warned it could lead to "mass surveillance" of anyone captured on CCTV.
When The Herald revealed the FoI data in May, the figures showed Police Scotland had used the technology on 440 occasions.
That total has now risen to 494, HMICS said, as it set out the remit for its inquiry.
The watchdog will ask eight "key research questions" including whether each of the 494 instances confirmed by Police Scotland was legal and consistent with the force's own policies.
It will also seek to compare Police Scotland's use of facial search technology with forces in England and Wales.
Watchdogs will also examine Police Scotland's record-keeping and oversight arrangements and ask "how are ethical issues considered"?
Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Alison McInnes said: "The details of the HMICS Audit and Assurance review into the use of this new software by Police Scotland are promising.
"This is new territory for public bodies. Without the right regulations and safeguards, there is a real risk that our civil liberties become compromised.
"There are strict rules on indiscriminately taking and cross-referencing our fingerprints and DNA but the same rules do not apply to the use of images on the UK-wide Police National Database."
Police Scotland has used facial recognition software since last year.
The technology is used to identify people caught on CCTC and other cameras with images on the UK-wide National Police Database, which features 18million images.
In addition to searching, Police Scotland has actively added to the database, uploading more than 600,000 custody mugshots when suspects were charged.
The force has defended its practices, saying facial search technology was used for "intelligence development purposes".
It stressed custody mugshots were "weeded" off the National Police Database if proceedings against a suspect were dropped or if they were found not guilty in court.
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