June saw the publication of a formal “Opinion” by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) on the data protection and privacy implications use of live facial recognition (LFR) technology. It only deals with the use of the technology in "public places", but it defines this term so widely (“any physical space outside a domestic setting, whether publicly or privately owned”) that effectively anywhere except within the home will be covered. It is essential reading for anyone using, or considering the use of, such technology. Almost concurrently, the combined European Union Data Protection Authorities (of which the ICO is, of course, no longer a member) issued an Opinion going even further, and calling for a general ban on the use of facial recognition in publicly accessible areas.