Three in Four Europeans Approve of Police Use of AI: Report

A recent report from IE University in Madrid reveals a considerable level of support for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by the police and military across Europe. According to the “European Tech Insights” survey, 75 percent of Europeans back the use of AI technologies, such as facial recognition and biometric data, for surveillance purposes in law enforcement and military operations.

This finding stands somewhat in contrast to Europe’s strict data privacy regulations, most notably the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which imposes significant penalties for data breaches. The public’s endorsement of AI in security, despite these protections, reflects a growing acceptance of AI’s role in maintaining public safety.

The survey, conducted with over 3,000 respondents from 10 European countries, underscores the public’s approval of AI’s role in public services. In fact, 79 percent of Europeans supported AI’s application in areas like traffic optimization, demonstrating even broader acceptance of AI in administrative functions.

However, in commentary to CNBC, Ikhlaq Sidhu, dean of the IE University’s School of Science and Technology, cautioned that “it is not clear that the public has thought about the ramifications of these [AI] applications.” While AI’s potential to improve operational efficiency in security and public services is clear, the extent of its future implications is still uncertain.

Despite this support for AI in law enforcement and public administration, the survey also highlights growing concerns around AI’s role in elections. A significant majority of Europeans (67 percent) fear the possibility of AI being used to manipulate democratic processes. These concerns are amplified by the increasing use of AI to generate misinformation, particularly through deepfakes, which are synthetic media created to mislead audiences.

As Sidhu notes, AI-driven misinformation is part of a broader trend of “loss of verifiability,” which has been escalating since the rise of the internet and social media. This worry is particularly relevant with major elections approaching, such as the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

Adding to the concerns around electoral integrity, 31 percent of Europeans believe AI has already influenced their voting decisions. As AI continues to evolve, this perception could deepen fears about its ability to affect political outcomes, especially through the spread of false information. The contrast between support for AI in public services and apprehension about its influence on democracy illustrates the complexity of public opinion on the technology’s role in society.

Generational differences in trust toward AI further complicate the picture. Younger Europeans (18-34) are more open to AI’s involvement in political decision-making, with 34 percent expressing trust in AI-powered apps to vote on their behalf. This trust diminishes with age, dropping to just 9 percent among those aged 65 and older.

These figures suggest that while AI is increasingly integrated into everyday life, its application in sensitive areas like political decisions is still met with considerable skepticism, particularly among older generations.

Sources: IE University, CNBC

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October 24, 2024 – by Cass Kennedy