French court’s approval of Olympics AI surveillance plan fuels privacy concerns
France’s highest constitutional court recently authorized the employment of Artificial Intelligence-driven surveillance at the upcoming Olympic Games. The legislation, which was passed by the National Assembly two months ago, aims to guarantee public safety while allowing AI systems to scan real-time images for any signs of potential threats or restricted items.
This law will be in effect until March 2025, making France the first EU country to embrace this technology. Although some see it as progress, many fear that such a move could compromise democratic principles and individual rights to privacy. Civil liberties organizations are particularly concerned by the unintended consequences of this measure, which could lead to the identification of individuals based on their body language, gait, and other unique characteristics.
