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December 8, 2024
The CDU (Christian Democratic Union) reaffirms its plan to expand video surveillance at German train stations with AI-supported facial recognition. According to CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann, this project is to be implemented with priority after a potential election victory for the Union. Linnemann emphasized the importance of safe train stations and sees AI technology as an important tool for improving security.
In contrast to conventional video surveillance systems, which merely record footage, AI-supported facial recognition allows for real-time comparison of captured images with criminal databases. This enables the immediate identification of wanted persons. The technology is based on complex algorithms that recognize faces based on specific features and compare them with stored data.
The CDU's initiative is being controversially discussed. Data protection advocates express concerns regarding the intrusion into privacy. Critics also doubt the effectiveness of the technology and point to potential misidentifications. SPD (Social Democratic Party) member of parliament Sebastian Fiedler described the CDU's plan as "stoking fear with supposedly simple solutions." While he admitted to wanting to examine the possibilities of exceptions within the European AI Act for the Federal Police, he emphasized the necessity of a thorough balancing of security interests and data protection.
There have been similar initiatives in the past to introduce AI-supported facial recognition in public spaces. A pilot project at Berlin's Südkreuz station in 2017 delivered positive results regarding technical feasibility, but also encountered criticism due to the error rate. Former Federal Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer (CSU - Christian Social Union) also pursued similar plans, which, however, did not progress beyond a draft bill. The use of AI-supported facial recognition is strictly regulated by the European AI Act. The interior ministers of the German states have called upon the federal government to clarify the legal framework for the use of the technology.
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The discussion about the use of AI-supported facial recognition at train stations will continue. It is important to find the balance between the legitimate security needs of the population and the protection of fundamental rights. Transparent and comprehensive public information about the technology, its functionality, and the associated risks is essential.
