by Elliot Mintz | 07/23/2024

 

In just a few days, millions will flock to Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games to watch athletes compete at the highest level. To maintain the safety and security of the largest crowd in Paris’s history, public safety agencies must be at the top of their game. Advanced technology will be at the forefront of many initiatives driving towards the goal of protecting all participants and spectators of the games. For frontline mobile workers including law enforcement, firefighters, and EMTs, mobile technology is crucial to mission-critical workflows, increased situational awareness, and optimized response time. Mobile technology used by public safety agencies at the 2024 Paris Olympics will include rugged devices such as tablets and vehicle-mounted computers, body-worn cameras, and mission-critical push-to-talk handheld computers. Instruments providing additional support and communication to officers, firefighters, and EMTs will include Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Record Management System (RMS) software, advanced platforms for vehicle and officer tracking, and controversially, a network of AI-enabled surveillance cameras for incident and threat detection.

Paris’s AI cameras will be positioned across Olympic sites including the Seine River where an unprecedented 300,000 spectators and 45,000 police officers are expected to witness the opening ceremony. Rather than dedicating thousands of frontline workers to surveying footage, AI software simultaneously monitors every camera, freeing officers to focus on more pressing matters. The AI cameras detect “unusual” activity, signs of fire, suspicious luggage, and vehicles in unauthorized zones among other red flags, and alert the relevant public safety personnel at emergency communication centers. From there, frontline workers supported by mobile technology assess the situation and take the necessary steps to mitigate the risk. Safeguards ensure that a human, not a computer, makes the final decision when acting on alert. Reliable connectivity will be vital for this technology to succeed and France’s public safety broadband network, Reseau Radio du Futur (RFF) will be tested. While AI-enabled cameras offer remarkable power in enhancing public safety operations, their implementation has raised significant privacy concerns amongst civil advocates.

The European Union is one of the world leaders in data privacy and AI regulation through its General Data Protection Regulation and AI Act. France which complies with these acts, passed laws specific to the Olympic timeframe allowing enhanced surveillance and the use of AI to intelligently review camera feeds and video. While no exception has been made authorizing France to collect and process biometric data (facial recognition, for example), many argue that the lines are too gray when it comes to identifying unusual behavior that could include body movements and positioning. Despite concerns, the 2024 Paris Olympics will be monitored by AI-powered surveillance that has already been tested during large events earlier this year. The collaboration between public safety agencies and technology has been crucial in saving lives and protecting the public for years, and with advancements in generative AI and other mobile technology, this will continue. As innovations continue, it is crucial that privacy is not overlooked with the overall protection of the public in mind.

Discover how AI supports frontline public safety workers in VDC’s report: AI Solution Opportunity Analysis on First Responder Workflow Automation in Public Safety coming Q3 2024.