An Australian-first trial of live AI facial recognition technology by a police force has been criticised by privacy experts and legal advocates.The mass AI surveillance pilot has been rolled out in Western Australia and is being closely watched by law enforcement agencies across the country.Since the trial began in June, cameras linked to facial recognition software have scanned more than 130,000 people in Perth and Fremantle, comparing their faces against a police watchlist in real time.Western Australian police say the results are promising but questions have been raised about an opaque watchlist and trial site locations that some say may target First Nations people.In June, the Western Australian Police announced it would be the first police force to use live facial recognition technology on the public.Facial recognition technology has become increasingly commonplace It did not respond.Dr McGlade said the lack of transparency was unacceptable."If they've got nothing to hide then they really should show us who's being charged."Dr Goldenfein said the WA trial could help shape how the technology was adopted elsewhere in Australia."I hope that as Australia starts to look again at the management of AI technologies in a more holistic way, the use of these technologies by law enforcement and intelligence apparatus doesn't escape that regulatory oversight," he said.Other state police forces are paying close attention to the trial of the technology too, according to WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch.He told a press conference when the WA trial was announced: "My colleagues, other police commissioners in other jurisdictions, are watching this trial closely to see how it goes."