Issues of "smart surveillance" have come to the fore, regarding security cameras with AI software, which on the one hand promise to keep citizens safe, on the other have raised debate and tensions, as fears have been expressed about their future use in a way that makes them uncontrollable.
Civil rights associations have already spoken out against the use of "smart" surveillance cameras during the 2024 Paris Olympics. The associations clearly fear that the cameras will continue to be used. and after the end of the international event, with a controversial purpose.
Smart camera software can prevent dangerous situations, as their creators decide, and this is helped by sound sensors that "pick up" breaking windows, a call for help, the image of a fallen body, a weapon or a person walking in the opposite direction in the flow of traffic. Even more than that, the facial recognition that is already in place at airports in Australia and the US is intended to detect delinquent situations, even in supermarkets to identify customers who do not intend to pay for their shopping.
The 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games is the big challenge for France, as it will have to prove in practice that it has taken serious security measures, both for the opening ceremony which will host around 600.000 people, and for all its days organization. The bill of April 12, 2023 already authorized the use of the smart camera, pilots, using cameras on drones or fixed points with AI software, in order to support the work of the police to prevent dangerous situations, such as the delivery of a suspicious package, the gathering crowds, a tension in the street, or even people with certain "suspicious" physical characteristics.
However, international organizations criticize this decision, speaking of a violation of international human rights law, including La Quadrature du Net, Human Rights Watch, Privacy International, AlgorithmWatch, European Digital Rights and Amnesty International. These organizations argue about the unpleasant consequences this measure will have for the future of citizens' privacy. The smart camera can be used recklessly to unduly control public places, workplaces, etc. Of course, the government states that this measure can be stopped at any time, and that it will limit the criminal behavior of individuals or groups against the life or property of citizens. The response of the organizations is that algorithmic video surveillance will limit the free presence and expression of citizens in spaces, as they will feel permanently persecuted, while there is also the possibility of stigmatizing homeless people or beggars, that is, people who belong to economically vulnerable groups. The stigmatization of individuals can be extended by characterizing citizens because of a particularity in movement or gait, while ascertaining whether or not they are dangerous means isolating the individual for a period of time. And not a few voices join together to warn about the possible mistakes of smart monitoring measures: the audience of a concert can easily be characterized as "abnormal" when they dance and move their hands to the rhythm of the music. On the contrary, people who intend to commit a criminal act, knowing about the cameras, will act with a commonly accepted normal behavior.
The bill for security measures during the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 includes 11 articles which, according to the Council of State, define monitoring measures acceptable even after the end of the international event, in addition to the fact that other international events also follow, such as the Rugby World Cup. The pilot use of the measures will certainly last until June 2025, and will monitor sports, entertainment and cultural events, which may become targets of terrorism. Smart cameras will eventually be installed in subway stations, train stations, airports, roads and elsewhere.
The protest filed by the organization La Quadrature du Net before the Cnil, collecting 15.248 signatures, moves in line with this concern. The purpose of this text was to ban the use of the smart camera by the Home Office.
The new regulation passed by the Senate follows the same pattern, on the basis of which the remote activation of mobile phones (audio and camera) is legalized. The left opposed this vote, but the measure passed successfully. Activation of this kind will be carried out in the context of legal - criminal investigations, without the knowledge of the owners of the devices (mobile phones, laptops, tablets, etc.), so that they can be located geographically, but also to receive sound and image, with the aim of limiting terrorist actions and other crimes.
See related video here:
Source https://www.leparisien.fr/
https://www.usine-digitale.fr/
Picture FrankMagdelyns / https://pixabay.com
Issues of "smart surveillance" have come to the fore, regarding security cameras with AI software, which on the one hand promise to keep citizens safe, on the other have raised debate and tensions, as fears have been expressed about their future use in a way that makes them uncontrollable.
Civil rights associations have already spoken out against the use of "smart" surveillance cameras during the 2024 Paris Olympics. The associations clearly fear that the cameras will continue to be used. and after the end of the international event, with a controversial purpose.
Smart camera software can prevent dangerous situations, as their creators decide, and this is helped by sound sensors that "pick up" breaking windows, a call for help, the image of a fallen body, a weapon or a person walking in the opposite direction in the flow of traffic. Even more than that, the facial recognition that is already in place at airports in Australia and the US is intended to detect delinquent situations, even in supermarkets to identify customers who do not intend to pay for their shopping.
The 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games is the big challenge for France, as it will have to prove in practice that it has taken serious security measures, both for the opening ceremony which will host around 600.000 people, and for all its days organization. The bill of April 12, 2023 already authorized the use of the smart camera, pilots, using cameras on drones or fixed points with AI software, in order to support the work of the police to prevent dangerous situations, such as the delivery of a suspicious package, the gathering crowds, a tension in the street, or even people with certain "suspicious" physical characteristics.
However, international organizations criticize this decision, speaking of a violation of international human rights law, including La Quadrature du Net, Human Rights Watch, Privacy International, AlgorithmWatch, European Digital Rights and Amnesty International. These organizations argue about the unpleasant consequences this measure will have for the future of citizens' privacy. The smart camera can be used recklessly to unduly control public places, workplaces, etc. Of course, the government states that this measure can be stopped at any time, and that it will limit the criminal behavior of individuals or groups against the life or property of citizens. The response of the organizations is that algorithmic video surveillance will limit the free presence and expression of citizens in spaces, as they will feel permanently persecuted, while there is also the possibility of stigmatizing homeless people or beggars, that is, people who belong to economically vulnerable groups. The stigmatization of individuals can be extended by characterizing citizens because of a particularity in movement or gait, while ascertaining whether or not they are dangerous means isolating the individual for a period of time. And not a few voices join together to warn about the possible mistakes of smart monitoring measures: the audience of a concert can easily be characterized as "abnormal" when they dance and move their hands to the rhythm of the music. On the contrary, people who intend to commit a criminal act, knowing about the cameras, will act with a commonly accepted normal behavior.
The bill for security measures during the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 includes 11 articles which, according to the Council of State, define monitoring measures acceptable even after the end of the international event, in addition to the fact that other international events also follow, such as the Rugby World Cup. The pilot use of the measures will certainly last until June 2025, and will monitor sports, entertainment and cultural events, which may become targets of terrorism. Smart cameras will eventually be installed in subway stations, train stations, airports, roads and elsewhere.
The protest filed by the organization La Quadrature du Net before the Cnil, collecting 15.248 signatures, moves in line with this concern. The purpose of this text was to ban the use of the smart camera by the Home Office.
The new regulation passed by the Senate follows the same pattern, on the basis of which the remote activation of mobile phones (audio and camera) is legalized. The left opposed this vote, but the measure passed successfully. Activation of this kind will be carried out in the context of legal - criminal investigations, without the knowledge of the owners of the devices (mobile phones, laptops, tablets, etc.), so that they can be located geographically, but also to receive sound and image, with the aim of limiting terrorist actions and other crimes.
See related video here:
Source https://www.leparisien.fr/
https://www.usine-digitale.fr/
Picture FrankMagdelyns / https://pixabay.com
