Former Surveillance Camera Commissioner Tony Porter to join facial recognition tech provider Corsight AI

Effective immediately, the former Surveillance Camera Commissioner for England and Wales, Tony Porter, has been announced as Chief Privacy Officer for Corsight AI.

Porter will be responsible for ensuring the company’s facial recognition technology is not only legally compliant across international jurisdictions, but also operates to the highest ethical standards.

The move to Corsight AI will see Porter put his legislative recommendations to the Home Office into practice, helping Corsight AI meet strict governance guidelines.

Porter was appointed Surveillance Camera Commissioner by the Home Secretary in March 2014 following a distinguished career in police and finance sector. A senior police leader with particular expertise in international counter terrorism, serious and organised crime, and extensive engagement with business, communities and local authority partners; he is widely respected nationally and internationally within law enforcement and intelligence communities. A champion of facial recognition during his time in office, the move represents the next chapter of Porter’s illustrious career.

Porter was the driving force behind launching Surveillance Camera Day and the Secure by Default scheme at IFSEC International in 2019. He also joined a panel during IFSEC’s Digital Week in 2020 to discuss the current state of security in the UK, and in particular that of video surveillance.

“By joining Corsight AI, I firmly believe we can help change perceptions surrounding the technology and demonstrate how it can be a force for good,” said Tony Porter, Chief Privacy Officer for Corsight AI. “As part of my role, I am keen to engage with those who are concerned about the technology’s use within society, so we can help Corsight AI provide the great value to society I know it can.”

Corsight’s facial recognition technology is said to allow for a more comprehensive and accurate detection of identifying features; thereby driving down false positives and enhancing accuracy for users. In addition to real-time detection, Corsight also provides local law enforcement, transportation, government agencies, airports, retail outlets, banks, and more with forensic video analysis that can analyse hours of video in minutes. Investigators receive a comprehensive summary of the person of interest’s actions and locations that can help inform next steps in the investigations.

“In my view, the most important part of adoption will focus on the technology’s application and its adherence to exacting standards,” said Porter. “More needs to be done to educate the public and dissenters about its uses and the very strict boundaries in which we ensure the technology operates. It really is a silver bullet in terms of societal benefit.”

Rob Watts, Corsight AI CEO added: “Tony’s appointment is an exciting milestone for us as a company. His intelligence background and wealth of experience will ensure we remain compliant in every jurisdiction, and more importantly, that we help our clients apply the technology legally. Privacy is at the core of Corsight AI, and we are demonstrating this commitment by creating a unique position within the business. I look forward to working with him to achieve great things as he looks to continue what he started during his tenure as Surveillance Camera Commissioner.”

Find out more about Corsight AI. 

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