Smart Software and Investigations
October 30, 2019
It should come as no surprise that governments are using AI to boost their surveillance capabilities, but we find some interesting specifics in the piece, “Artificial Intelligence Used for Mass Surveillance in 75 Countries” at WiredFocus. The article shares some details of a recent report from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace that examined just how different countries are using the technologies. Reporter Steven Feldstein writes:
“A growing number of states are deploying advanced AI surveillance tools to monitor, track, and surveil citizens to accomplish a range of policy objectives—some lawful, others that violate human rights, and many of which fall into a murky middle ground. In order to appropriately address the effects of this technology, it is important to first understand where these tools are being deployed and how they are being used. Unfortunately, such information is scarce. To provide greater clarity, this paper presents an AI Global Surveillance (AIGS) Index—representing one of the first research efforts of its kind. The index compiles empirical data on AI surveillance use for 176 countries around the world. It does not distinguish between legitimate and unlawful uses of AI surveillance. Rather, the purpose of the research is to show how new surveillance capabilities are transforming the ability of governments to monitor and track individuals or systems. It specifically asks:
*Which countries are adopting AI surveillance technology?
*What specific types of AI surveillance are governments deploying?
*Which countries and companies are supplying this technology?”
Navigate to the write-up for key findings. For example, these practices are spreading faster than expected, with at least 75 out of 176 countries now actively using AI tech for surveillance—56 use smart city/safe city platforms, 64 use facial recognition systems, and 52 use “smart policing.” Not surprisingly, China is a major source of AI surveillance technology worldwide, but companies based in democracies also play a large role (including the US). Autocratic governments, of course, are especially prone to abuse these technologies, and counties that spend a lot on their militaries also invest heavily in AI surveillance.
The article closes with some links to more information. The AI Global Surveillance Index itself can be found here, while an interactive map based upon it is at this link. The truly curious should check out the open Zotero library holding all reference source material that researchers used to build the index.
Cynthia Murrell, October 30, 2019
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