The municipality of Seine-Saint-Denis has five hundred surveillance cameras assisted by artificial intelligence, while the government wants to generalize the experimentation of this type of device thanks to the Olympic Games.
by Robin Richardot
In front of Aulnay-sous-Bois RER station (Seine-Saint-Denis), the subject does not seem to be moving more than that. Surveillance cameras assisted by artificial intelligence (AI) in the city? No one is really aware. The opinions are not decided, rather positive overall. “A good thing for safety,” said a retired couple. “Rather reassuring, as long as it is not too intrusive,” thinks Ana, a 51 -year -old Aulnaysian. Only a 17 -year -old resident emphasizes that he “should not be too much abuse” with this technology.
The city of Aulnay-sous-Bois has set up algorithmic video surveillance (VSA) since 2021. It is part of the fifty municipalities in France which already use these so-called “increased” cameras. A device which is today at the heart of lively debates, while the government intends to generalize its use thanks to the bill relating to the Olympic and Paralympic Games (JOP) of 2024. This text, adopted by the Senate on January 31 , and who will be examined in March by the deputies, provides for the experimentation of the VSA in France until June 30, 2025.
Presented as a tool to ensure the safety of sporting (or other) events by its promoters, algorithmic video surveillance “undoubtedly presents risks for the fundamental rights and freedoms of people and the preservation of their anonymity in public space” , however consider the National Commission for Data Protection (CNIL).
“I am not here to play the sheriffs from my office”
Hundreds of images scroll on the screens of the Ulnay-sous-Bois urban supervision center (CSU). It is here that the five hundred cameras increased on the public highway are controlled by twenty-three police operators, twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week. A place proudly presented on the town hall website , which omits to speak of algorithms or AI, evoking only the “modernization of new analysis and exploitation technologies”.
These technologies have been developed by Neuroo, a French company specializing in the analysis of surveillance cameras images, which sold its AI software to the municipality. The system allows you to alert video operators when the algorithm detects an “event” for which it was configured: detection of a weapon, abandoned objects, wild deposit, start of fire, marauding, crowd movement or grouping on the public road.
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