Source: ImpACT International

This article from ImpACT International explores the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and advanced surveillance technologies in law enforcement and state governance, emphasizing their profound impact on privacy, civil liberties, and social justice worldwide. It highlights the ethical and legal dilemmas posed by AI-powered tools such as predictive policing and facial recognition, which often operate without adequate transparency or consent, thereby marginalizing vulnerable groups and threatening democratic freedoms.

The article details how predictive policing systems, relying on biased historical data, perpetuate institutional racism and undermine rights to non-discrimination, privacy, and fair trial. It also discusses the extensive use of facial recognition technology in authoritarian regimes, particularly China, where it supports pervasive surveillance and social control, including the monitoring of ethnic minorities. The Clearview AI case is presented as a significant example of legal and ethical challenges, with regulatory actions taken in Europe for violations of privacy laws.

Further, the article addresses the issue of algorithmic bias, which disproportionately harms marginalized communities due to biased training data and opaque AI systems that limit victims' ability to seek redress. It critiques the fragmented and reactive nature of current AI governance frameworks, noting the absence of binding global standards specifically addressing AI surveillance and human rights. The piece concludes by calling for urgent legal reforms, including binding international treaties, independent oversight, mandatory transparency, and human rights-centered AI design to safeguard democracy and human dignity in the era of AI surveillance.