AI Surveillance in Real Life

The world is confronted with threats that require timely responses. The human factor can be a “blind spot” that may lead to potential problems, but AI is devoid of this shortcoming.

Artificial intelligence is unemotional, stays focused, and diligently executes operations embedded in its algorithms.

Consequently, it makes a perfect candidate for maintaining public order, no matter how many people it has to monitor at once.

As you may have guessed, I am smoothly leading up to upcoming large-scale events. These include the Olympic Games in France, UEFA EURO 2024 in Germany, basketball tournaments in the USA, and international tennis cups.

It is important to ensure law and order at events of such scale and to prepare to respond to possible challenges—terrorism, large-scale conflicts, and so on.

Today, I want to share details about security measures, particularly in Paris.

I'm talking about artificial intelligence in smart camera systems and other components of population protection platforms.

Potential Challenges

The world is facing a huge number of dangers—the activation of criminal groups, wars, and terrorist activities.

Not long ago, there were public statements regarding ISIS preparing attacks, particularly in Europe. Amidst this, we've got major global sporting events coming up, which naturally draw huge crowds.

And let's not forget about the human factor and the impact of ecology on human health, among other things.

Overall, challenges abound, so something needs to be done to counter them.

Methods of Responding to Problems

While we might feel powerless against global conflicts and environmental issues in the short term, dealing with terrorism and worsening health conditions at events is another matter altogether.

For example, we can monitor people's behavior, detect anomalies, and instantly relay information about incidents to the relevant control centers.

Preventive Organizational Measures

To ensure safety, governments can deploy additional patrols at stadiums, venues, streets, and subways (France is already planning to involve over 30,000 police officers).

However, this will not be as effective as integrating AI into video surveillance systems, as the human factor comes into play.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Security Protocols

Regular cameras, despite being labeled as Smart, still require monitoring and the involvement of dispatchers. However, AI-based surveillance systems will help eliminate many issues. For example, staff getting distracted or delayed responses to incidents.

Smart Audience Surveillance

Cameras focused on event attendees, people on the streets, and public transportation provide an overall picture and quickly identify deviations. Additionally, AI-based systems instantly analyze situations and alert relevant services about incidents. And yes, this is not hindered by European legislation regulating the use of AI.

Classification of Emergencies and Events

The French authorities have obtained permission to use artificial intelligence in video surveillance systems and process confidential information through certain services. However, currently, the infrastructure can cover a limited range of potential incidents. Here are scenarios when AI will automatically make decisions and inform specialized services.

Crowd Surges

Excessive emotional and physical activity at sporting events is normal. However, crowd surges can be dangerous—they can lead to mass injuries or, worse, distract from something more serious than bruises and fractures.

Abnormal Crowds

Hundreds of thousands of attendees constitute a large crowd. However, even a group of 5-15 individuals can appear suspicious in security-dominated realities. Recent events, where just 3 individuals killed over 150 concertgoers, justify this caution.

Abandoned Items

People may lose wallets, phones, or jewelry at events. However, a sports bag under a seat may contain explosives. Ignoring a suspicious item within or near a crowd can have dire consequences.

Presence or Use of Weapons

Even a simple pocket knife can become deadly in the hands of a skilled fighter, not to mention firearms or grenades. The slightest indication that someone has one of these items may be evidence of preparation for something dangerous.

Individuals on the Ground

Emotions, heat, and congestion can overwhelm sensitive individuals, leading to health problems, unconsciousness, potential conflicts, etc. If someone is lying on the ground, it indicates a need for assistance, something AI can understand and process.

Fire Outbreaks

Smoke and sparks in the air may indicate a short circuit that could escalate into a fire. Therefore, special fire prevention systems are installed in places with crowds. However, AI-powered cameras can visually identify the location of the incident, recognize fire, and direct rescuers to the scene.

Violation of Traffic Organization Rules

Attempts to leave the venue, cause conflicts, or enter restricted areas can pose a threat. Therefore, AI-equipped cameras clearly recognize segments they monitor, detect anomalies, and alert staff closest to the incident.

Facial Recognition – Taboo

Current policies regarding citizen data confidentiality prohibit the use of facial recognition systems. We at AdvantISS encountered this at one of our previous projects.

But IMHO, this technology could have been implemented to mitigate risks (tracking criminals in databases, etc.).

What's Next?

Even perfect event preparation can overlook unexpected scenarios.

Therefore, as an event organizer and partner, I would use artificial intelligence to predict potential challenges based on statistical, historical, and current open data. It might seem paranoid, but it's better to be safe.

What do you think about current security measures at various global events?

Share your thoughts in the comments!