Invasive surveillance technologies for the Olympics could open the door to a dystopian future

by time news
© picture alliance / Daniel Kalke

The French legislature must reject any plan of use artificial intelligence (AI) powered video surveillance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. These draconian mass surveillance technologies violate the right to privacy and may also violate the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, potentially leading to dystopian levels of surveillance in the future”, Amnesty International said today, as the bill on the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games is to be put to a vote by the plenary session of the French National Assembly.

The bill was approved by the French Senate in January and, if adopted, will legalize the use of a ubiquitous AI-powered mass video surveillance system for the first time in the history of France… and the European Union. According to the French legislature, this colossal surveillance architecture is “experimental” and will be used to ensure security during the Games. International Amnesty he fears, however, that the bill will expand police powers by permanently increasing the arsenal of government surveillance equipment.

“Refueling the security apparatus with AI-powered mass surveillance is a dangerous political project that could lead to widespread human rights violations. Any and all actions taken in a public space will be sucked into a dragnet of surveillance infrastructure, undermining fundamental civil liberties,” warned Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

The French legislature has not shown that this legislation it complies with the principles of necessity and proportionality which are absolutely essential to ensure that security and surveillance measures do not threaten the rights to freedom of assembly and association, privacy and non-discrimination. While the need for security during the event is understandable, international human rights law continues to apply to the Olympic Games. In their current format, these mainstream AI-powered mass surveillance apps are a complete violation of privacy and other rights..”

If the As AI-powered mass surveillance measures are implemented, millions of people will be tracked and monitored as they head to stadiums or use public transportation to access the venues of a major sporting event. AI algorithms analyze and capture data from everyone in your Action ratio. The ubiquitous presence of closed circuit cameras and drones in the Games that will allow authorities to detect “suspicious” or “abnormal” activity in the crowd is, as such, especially problematic.

It is Excessively broad definitions established by the authorities to classify “suspicious” or “abnormal” activities in the crowd are very worrying. We must ask ourselves some pressing questions: Who sets the standard for what is ‘normal’? The authorities that control what are the ‘abnormal or suspicious’ activities in societies also have the power to exacerbate a deterrent effect on dissent and protest, and to aggravate the discrimination suffered by already discriminated communities”, continued Agnes Callamard.

The threats to human rights posed by the development and use of AI by private companies and public authorities in the European Union (EU) are well documented.

“These technologies amplify racist policing and threaten the right to protest.” Ethnic minorities – including migrants, and black and brown people – are most at risk of being targeted by certain surveillance tools, especially facial recognition systems,” said Agnes Callamard.

This bill is not only a threat to privacy and human rights, but also betrays the spirit of the EU Artificial Intelligence Law, a significant global law that aims to regulate AI and protect data. fundamental rights in the Union, of which France is an influential member.

“France’s plan to use invasive surveillance measures during the Olympic Games should serve as a wake-up call for the EU. The first use in the EU of this security mechanism could ultimately perverting the Union’s AI law in a way that could cause a human rights crisis through large-scale violation of the rights of millions of people who are monitored, without their knowledge or consent, and potentially subject to experimental mass surveillance technologies. Through its negotiations around the AI ​​Law, the EU must put an end to the use of artificial intelligence technologies for mass surveillance and to monitor citizens in a discriminatory way. We also call for a ban on facial recognition systems used for mass surveillance,” concluded Agnes Callamard.

If France legalizes mass surveillance at the national level, one of the biggest sporting events on the planet could become one of the biggest violations of the right to privacy.

General information:

The text of the bill was approved by the Senate on January 31 and surpassed a legislative hurdle on March 8 after the committee vote.

In a open letter Initiated by the European Center for Non-Profit Law, 38 civil society organisations, including Amnesty International, have called on policy makers in France to reject the bill allowing invasive surveillance.

International Amnesty, together with a coalition of civil society organizations headed by the European Digital Rights Network (EDRi), calls for regulation of AI technologies and practices in the EU in line with human rights.

Amnesty International has previously documented the use of thousands of closed-circuit cameras with facial recognition capability in New York City, many of which were used in communities racialized and increased racially discriminatory policing.

after the London Olympics in 2012, numerous surveillance measures used for security purposes during the event were made permanent.

You may also like

Leave a Comment