As the Summer Olympics in Paris, France are set to begin next week, spectators can expect nearly 100 floats carrying top athletes to make their way across the Seine River. With half a million fans expected to line the route, the event will pass by iconic landmarks like the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. However, the real-time monitoring of the event using thousands of CCTV cameras and advanced artificial intelligence models has raised concerns about privacy and surveillance laws in the European Union.
AI surveillance will look for crowd disturbances
A new law in France allows law enforcement to use experimental AI algorithms to analyze public video feeds for real-time crowd analyses. The AI models will scan CCTV camera feeds for signs of potential threats such as weapons, large crowds, fights, and unattended items. Partnering with tech companies like Wintics, Videtics, and Orange Business, France has already tested the system at various events, including a Depeche Mode concert, with plans to use it during the Olympics.
The AI system will flag any potential threats for human law enforcement to assess, without using facial recognition or collecting unique biometric identifiers. Instead, the models focus on analyzing behavioral patterns like body movements and positions to identify potential risks. French officials emphasize that the AI does not identify individuals based on biometric data but rather on situational cues.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin stated, “It’s not about recognizing ‘Mr. X’ in a crowd. It’s about recognizing situations.”
Olympic games will put France’s new ‘experimental’ AI video surveillance to the test
However, critics raise concerns about the AI system potentially collecting biometric markers that could violate GDPR rules and EU privacy laws. The broad permissions granted for monitoring gait, body positions, and gestures could infringe on the limits of biometric data collection in public spaces. Human rights groups fear that the surveillance measures could set a dangerous precedent for future surveillance laws and undermine efforts to regulate AI surveillance in the EU.
While the surveillance law is set to expire in 2025, there are concerns that the temporary measures could become permanent, impacting civil liberties over time. The justification for enhanced security measures stems from past terrorist attacks in France, prompting authorities to implement stringent security protocols for the Olympics.
France ramps up security for massive outdoor opening ceremony
Aside from AI surveillance, France has established an anti-terrorism perimeter around the Seine River for the Opening Ceremonies, implementing background checks and QR codes for residents within the designated area. With a significant increase in police and military presence, along with specialized units to address potential threats, France is prioritizing security for the event.
While the use of advanced monitoring tools during major events is not new, the implications of prolonged surveillance capabilities post-event raise concerns about privacy and civil liberties. Host nations often justify such measures for security reasons, but the long-term impact on individual rights remains a subject of debate.
