2023-10-14 05:17:00
On the question of the use of facial recognition, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo declares that he has “a rather nuanced opinion”. As a liberal, “living in a world where we are monitored all the time, where we are followed all the time” does not enchant him. “This is clearly not the definition of a free society.” On the other hand, he believes that this technology might be useful in very specific cases.
The European Parliament paves the way for the regulation of AI, a world first
In June, as part of the adoption of its regulations on artificial intelligence, the European Parliament voted to ban real-time facial recognition. In Belgium, the use of facial recognition technologies is not authorized by law. With the proliferation of cameras in public and private spaces, the question is once once more brought into the debate. Especially since part of the latest budget was reserved to increase the resources allocated to security and this increase plans to finance the installation of hundreds of new surveillance cameras.
Recently, Deputy Prime Minister David Clarinval (MR) told DH that he was not opposed to the idea of opening the debate on the use of this controversial technology. The Prime Minister’s thinking goes in the same direction as that of his liberal minister.
”There are already a lot of cameras in Belgium. We are already much more controlled than before, it’s something we feel,” observes Alexander De Croo. “On the other hand, technology can help us in certain areas, in certain specific cases, such as at the Gare du Midi. It should be possible, but not continuously and not without very precise instruction. I want to avoid having cameras everywhere and being followed everywhere. But offering yourself this possibility of clearly stipulating that it is at the request of a person in a file and to obtain something precise, that is something else.”
gull
“Continuous recognition systems are still something that scares me.”
The liberal considers that there should be a system where a judge would decide on proportionality. This software might be used in very specific situations and areas. Certain national stations, whose lack of security around them was the subject of heated political discussions this summer, might accommodate this type of device, in the Prime’s thoughts.
Vast police operation at the Midi station, here is the result: “this whole operation should not displace the problems”
”For me, the use must be a use approved by a judge. One might imagine it, as I have just explained it to you, in a very precise, well-motivated and proportional framework. I know there are people who say “we’ll never do it”, but it’s hard to stop technological progress. What we can do is frame it and have a human decision before being able to use it,” continues the head of the federal executive, before concluding: “Continuous recognition systems are when even something that scares me.”
1697294693
#Alexander #Croo #opposed #facial #recognition #specific #cases #Gare #Midi
