We’ve not forgotten our important campaign on the use of FRT at Hillsborough and are now publishing correspondence between ourselves and Sheffield Wednesday Football Club regarding its controversial deployment of FRT at Hillsborough Stadium.
Summaries of this correspondence can be found below, with the full letter from SWFC found here, and our reply available here. Copies of these letters have been given to the Information Commissioner’s Office for the UK.
Summary of the Club’s Response (19th August)
While the club has provided some technical details about the system, we believe their response fails to address fundamental legal and ethical concerns. Key issues remain unresolved such as:
• No Data Protection Impact Assessment has been shared despite requests.
• The legal basis for processing supporters' biometric data remains unclear.
• Questions about real-time monitoring capabilities have not been adequately answered.
• Proper signage and consent requirements appear to have been overlooked.
Our Campaign Continues
The Trust believes supporters have a right to attend matches without being subjected to intrusive surveillance technology that lacks proper legal safeguards and transparent oversight. We are:
• Continuing dialogue with the Information Commissioner's Office.
• Seeking full disclosure of impact assessments and legal compliance measures.
• Demanding proper consultation with supporters before any expansion of surveillance.
• Working to ensure supporters' rights are protected.
Our initial letter to the club on the use of FRT in Hillsborough can be found here.
You can support the Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust by joining as a fee-paying member, a donation, or through the purchase of merchandise.
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