Greece’s AI Smart Policing system ruled unlawful after €4 million public spending\
Greece's data protection authority has declared the Hellenic Police's €4 million "Smart Policing" program, which incorporated AI technologies like facial recognition, as unlawful. This ruling validates persistent concerns from digital rights advocates regarding potential violations of facial recognition and data protection regulations. The decision highlights a significant tension between the deployment of advanced AI surveillance tools by law enforcement and fundamental privacy rights.
The program, reportedly costing €4 million, enabled the use of AI for policing purposes, with facial recognition being a key component. While specific technical details of the AI's operational scope remain undisclosed, the authority's finding underscores that its implementation did not meet legal standards for data processing and privacy. This ruling sets a precedent for how AI technologies, particularly those involving biometric data, must be scrutinized under existing data protection frameworks.
This decision directly impacts citizens' privacy and raises broader questions about the ethical and legal implications of AI-driven surveillance in Europe. The ruling affects how law enforcement agencies across the EU can deploy similar technologies, potentially prompting a re-evaluation of AI procurement and implementation strategies. It reinforces the importance of robust oversight and accountability mechanisms for government use of artificial intelligence.
Curated and translated by Europe Digital for our multilingual European audience.
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