Swedish Government to Move Forward with Police FRT Amid Gang Violence

The Swedish government has announced plans to enable law enforcement to use real-time facial recognition technology from cameras in public places. The move aims to assist cops in identifying individuals suspected of certain crimes.

The decision follows the European Union’s recent adoption of AI regulations, which generally ban real-time facial recognition in public spaces but include exceptions for specific law enforcement purposes.

In December, the Swedish government initiated an inquiry into expanding law enforcement’s powers regarding camera surveillance, including facial recognition technology. Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer argued that the inquiry’s findings, presented on Monday, provide the necessary insights to advance the use of such technology for crime-fighting purposes significantly.

Kazimir Aberg, who led the inquiry, emphasized that real-time facial recognition in public should align with the EU’s AI regulations. These regulations permit its use in specific circumstances, such as searching for missing persons, preventing imminent threats like terrorist attacks, and locating individuals suspected of serious crimes. Aberg proposed that the technology be used only for crimes with at least a four-year prison sentence and require judicial authorization for specific investigations, not for preventive measures.

Strommer welcomed the proposal, noting that the inquiry had carefully considered the balance between privacy concerns and effective crime fighting. The government will now work on finalizing the details of the plan, although no implementation date has been set.

Sweden has experienced a significant rise in criminal violence in recent years, particularly marked by an increase in shootings, bombings, and gang-related activities. To a considerable extent, the criminal activity has been attributed to organized crime’s recruitment of young people from Sweden’s communities of recent immigrants.

Source: AFP

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June 3, 2024 – by Cass Kennedy