The code of practice, which came into force today (Wednesday 16 November), gives guidance to the police on how biometric data and related forensic technologies can be used ethically in a criminal justice setting.
The use of biometric data - including faces, fingerprints, voices, DNA profiles and other measurements related to the body - is becoming increasingly common in new technologies, particularly those related to facial recognition.
However, these applications have led to civil rights challenges and condemnation from human rights groups, who argue that the technology is often mistaken and biased.
The Scottish framework aims to address these concerns by setting out 12 principles and ethical considerations detailing how biometric data can be acquired, retained, used and destroyed in criminal justice and policing scenarios.
These include equality, lawful authority, ethics, privacy, respect for human rights and encouragement of scientific and technological...