A committee of France's National Assembly voted in favor of using AI-assisted mass video surveillance during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
The system would rely on cameras linked to algorithmic systems to identify so-called "suspicious behavior" in crowds.
Human rights groups and some French politicians have opposed the use of the system, saying it could damage civil liberties and people's privacy.
- The law committee of the National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament, approved the AI surveillance this week but agreed to limit its use through late December 2024 instead of June 2025.
- Critics have argued that the plans could run afoul of the EU's proposed Artificial Intelligence Act.
- They also worry that such a system could become a permanent fixture, leading to mass surveillance in the city and the country.
- The bill is scheduled to go to a full plenary vote later this month, where it could be given final approval.
