Written by Aminu Mohamed
The rise of capitalism and industrialization has fueled the growth of metropolitan areas and cities worldwide, also in the majority of low-income countries. Many cities have developed significantly due to economic activities in manufacturing and various services. People are increasingly drawn to urban centers because of the job opportunities and potential for personal and professional growth. This has resulted in a substantial migration from rural areas to urban centers all over the world.
However, this rural-urban migration has created challenges for many cities, particularly those lacking adequate housing to accommodate the influx of newcomers. In many countries, the security and public safety of citizens have been compromised due to the large number of rural-urban migrants who struggle to find employment. Some individuals have turned to crime as a means of survival.
Many major cities across the globe face the daunting task of ensuring public safety by implementing various measures to prevent crime and address the activities of individuals who threaten societal well-being. Urbanization in many developed and developing countries has contributed to rising crime rates, primarily driven by drug abuse and high unemployment.
In many developing countries, the situation is especially severe, according to the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat), around 60 percent of city residents in developing countries have experienced violence or crime in the past five years, with the figure rising to 70 percent in Africa and Latin America. The most affected groups are often women and children, which hinders the socio-economic development of these countries. The UN report attributes the high crime levels in urban areas of developing nations to inequality and social exclusion.
Public security, frequently referred to as public safety, involves the prevention of issues or incidents that could endanger the safety of people in a given area, posing significant risks to life and property.
Deployment of artificial intelligence for crime prevention
There has been a significant controversy surrounding the use of artificial intelligence tools in city surveillance and policing. Many believe that the widespread adoption of machine learning in law enforcement raises ethical concerns, particularly regarding individual privacy and the potential impact on personal freedom.
Despite these concerns, artificial intelligence is increasingly being utilized by city authorities to prevent crime and enhance security. This approach involves the integration of machine learning tools, data analytics, and computer vision to safeguard public safety. The implementation of machine learning algorithms not only enhances human capabilities but also fosters an effective security framework within cities.
In recent years, numerous cities have adopted technologies such as video surveillance systems, facial recognition, smart cameras, and biometrics to aid in crime prevention and mitigation. With limited resources and personnel available to monitor urban areas, security agencies can leverage artificial intelligence tools to ensure comprehensive coverage across the city. Consequently, robotic safety devices and surveillance cameras can detect crime, thus reducing the risk to police officers’ lives.
Modern technologies like artificial intelligence can assist large cities worldwide in addressing the challenges of urbanization. Security agencies have implemented a range of smart sensors and advanced technologies to collect video footage and crucial data for criminal analysis and security initiatives. When relevant video footage is flagged, artificial intelligence tools can help distinguish between normal and abnormal activities, enabling security personnel to act quickly and efficiently in preventing crime.
Role of artificial intelligence in security and surveillance
The importance of artificial intelligence in public safety is significant, as many cities have adopted such tools to reduce criminal activities. Singular Perturbations, a start-up company in Japan, has created crime detection devices called Crime Nabi and Patrol Community to address crime in Japanese cities. These devices not only help predict crime but also assist security personnel in patrolling and policing. They alert the police about specific locations that have a higher likelihood of criminal activity. To forecast crimes, Crime Nabi collects data on previous offenses, taking into account land use and weather conditions, and utilizes algorithms for predictions. This artificial intelligence tool has been effectively used in Nagoya and other municipalities in Japan to reduce crime.
In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which is facing rising crime levels, the city has implemented an artificial intelligence device called Crime Radar developed by the Igarape Institute, to combat criminal activities. This device can accurately predict where crimes are likely to occur, providing the police with crucial information to prevent these incidents. Utilizing advanced machine learning, Crime Radar analyzes historical crime data to forecast the likelihood of crime at specific locations and times within the city. Since its implementation in Rio de Janeiro, crime incidents have decreased significantly by approximately 40 percent.
In Singapore, artificial intelligence systems have helped improve security and prevent crime. The Singapore Police have deployed the PolCam camera system in strategic locations throughout the city to enhance surveillance and ensure public safety. PolCam is an artificial intelligence system that processes large volumes of video data, identifying anomalies, people of interest, and objects while tracking them across multiple cameras. To date, over 7,500 crime incidents have been resolved thanks to the use of PolCam in neighborhoods. The police monitor activities in the city through live video feeds, looking for any disturbances or suspicious behavior. This allows them to respond quickly to potential crimes. By adopting this predictive strategy, the Singapore Police utilize data algorithms to identify unusual activities, enabling them to intervene before crimes occur.
Challenges
Artificial intelligence has been successfully used by some cities to prevent crime and enhance public safety. However, it might be also a dangerous tool that could infringe on public privacy and human rights. In the worst case, such machine learning technologies can become a means of controlling and suppressing the will of the people.
For instance, in China, the government has implemented an artificial intelligence system known as the Integrated Joint Operations Platform (IJOP) for surveillance purposes particularly in Xinjiang province. This technology, developed by the Xinjiang Lianhai Chuangzhi Company, can identify individuals of Uighur ethnicity due to their distinct facial features. Whenever someone from the Uighur region enters a bank, park, hospital, or any public space, the system alerts the police. The Chinese government's use of technology to monitor the largely Uighur population in Xinjiang is seen as a tool for racism and a violation of the rights of individuals.
Similarly, in the United Kingdom, police use an artificial intelligence tool called Live Facial Recognition (LFR) for surveillance and to identify individuals who have committed crimes or are wanted. The LFR system can compare images captured by cameras in real time to an existing police watch list. However, facial recognition technology typically involves matching images after the individual has left the crime scene. The use of such facial recognition technology raises concerns about racial discrimination and a violation of the human rights of individuals from various backgrounds. Especially if the training dataset for the algorithms consists of historical data that have racial or gender bias.
These are only two examples of how AI in public safety can be misused or can lead to negative developments in societies such as increasing discrimination. There are much more such real-life examples all over the world as a Summary created by Amnesty International shows.
The way forward
Artificial intelligence is often seen as beneficial for crime prevention and public safety. However, institutions must ensure that data and algorithms are used appropriately and transparently, without causing harm to any particular segment of society. There is no doubt that cities and municipalities will be more livable when crime rates are low, but Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are just tools that have no moral norms. If applied inappropriately, with bad intentions, or without strong ethical standards, they might cause damages to society.
MI4People has consistently advocated for the transparency and accessibility of technology for all. While we also have concerns that the use of artificial intelligence by security operatives could limit individual freedom and privacy, the reality in many places around the world is that the overall benefits of these tools for public safety might outweigh their potential negative effects. But if a country wants to apply AI in the area of public safety, it is essential for the governments to establish strong regulations and highly trustable and transparent standards, maintain public discussion about this topic, and always keep humans in the loop for analyzing results provided by AI. On this way, a society can ensure that individuals' rights are protected and potentials for discrimination are minimized towards zero.
With greetings
MI4People team
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