The Paris Summer Olympics 2024 captivated a global audience with approximately 28 million viewers tuning in to watch the opening ceremony. The event has also attracted an estimated 16 million sports enthusiasts to the French capital, creating a vibrant and bustling atmosphere.
However, the task of securing Paris during such a significant event has proven to be a formidable challenge for French authorities, particularly given the heightened security concerns stemming from the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.
According to an Associated Press report, an impressive contingent of 45,000 police officers and 10,000 soldiers was deployed to ensure the safety of the opening ceremony. What has been particularly noteworthy, however, is the French government’s innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI) for surveillance.
As reported by Bloomberg Law, the AI system implemented for the Olympics employs an advanced algorithm to scrutinize CCTV footage from various locations throughout Paris.
This technology is designed to detect suspicious activities, such as individuals moving against the flow of a crowd or carrying a weapon. The deployment of AI surveillance at the Paris Olympics is facilitated by a special law that temporarily permits its use, marking a groundbreaking first for an event of this scale.
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Importantly, the AI system in use does not collect biometric data. Instead, it recognizes individuals in crowds through unique identifiers, capturing and processing distinctive physiological characteristics to identify potentially suspicious behavior.
This approach aims to enhance security without infringing on personal privacy through biometric data collection.
Despite these measures, the deployment of AI surveillance tools has sparked a range of concerns. Studies have indicated that the efficiency of AI in identifying certain types of criminal activity can be as low as 0.1 percent.
Additionally, there are apprehensions about inherent biases within the AI systems, which can stem from the training data sets used to develop these technologies. This raises questions about the fairness and accuracy of deploying AI surveillance on such a large scale.
Another significant challenge is the necessity to accommodate diverse cultural norms at an event that attracts participants and spectators from around the globe. The varied behaviors and customs of different cultures can complicate the AI’s ability to accurately interpret what constitutes suspicious activity.
In India, the integration of AI systems into policing has also been advancing. The Uttar Pradesh Police have implemented an AI-enabled video analytics platform known as “Jarvis.”
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This platform monitors real-time CCTV footage from 700 cameras across state prisons, enhancing surveillance and security measures. Additionally, AI technologies are being utilized in drone systems for military and security surveillance purposes in India.
The use of AI in surveillance, both in France and India, underscores a broader trend towards leveraging advanced technologies to enhance security. However, it also highlights the critical need to balance technological innovation with ethical considerations and the protection of individual rights.