The Cnil, guarantor of the privacy of the French, called this Tuesday for a regulatory or legislative framework for surveillance devices using so-called “augmented” cameras, capable of identifying the behavior of people in public space, according to a press release. . After a consultation on the subject, the authority considers in a document that these devices are now prohibited by law.
However, it asks the public powers to limit its “disproportionate multiplication”, while many municipalities have already associated this type of software to their video surveillance device. The Commission also wants to draw “red lines” for cameras whose purpose would be to rate people based on their behavior.
Note that the Cnil differentiates these “augmented” cameras from “biometric” cameras, which are intended to identify an individual precisely thanks to facial recognition tools.
Meetings or abandoned luggage
Augmented cameras are recording devices associated with artificial intelligence software that allow automatic analysis of people’s behavior, without necessarily identifying passers-by.
They allow, according to their promoters, to identify infractions, “suspicious” behavior (overcrowding, rapid movements or abnormally prolonged presence of a person) or abandoned luggage.
Their “uncontrolled” deployment in public space “presents new risks for privacy”, according to the Cnil, because they can lead to a generalized surveillance society, or even “modify, as a reaction, the behavior of people who circulate on the street or go shopping.
For uses that would be considered “legitimate”, for example to analyze the use of certain routes or public transport systems, a law or regulation will still be necessary to “override the right to object”, which normally allows you to refuse to appear in a file.
The Cnil, which has made this issue one of its priority areas of action, does not rule out a campaign of controls to enforce its position.
Source: BFM TV
Emily Miller is a voice to be reckoned with in the world of opinion journalism. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a unique and thought-provoking perspective to current events and political issues, delivering insightful and engaging commentary.