Opinion: How artificial intelligence could transform police body cameras – MarketWatch

The first generation of police body cameras was introduced in 2005 in Great Britain. Their primary task was, and still is, to record police interactions with the public as well as to gather evidence at crime scenes. During a typical day, every police officer captures hours and hours of footage. To separate the irrelevant data from incriminating evidence, every recording needs to be reviewed and edited.

Now imagine sifting through hundreds of hours of police footage, looking for a specific piece of information, such as a verbal exchange between an officer and a suspect, a clear shot of license plates, or a suspect entering a particular building or meeting a particular person. Its a rather time-consuming task, so a lot of this footage ends up archived to be reviewed later, forfeiting potentially valuable or time-sensitive evidence.

The solution could be the use of artificial intelligence. Machine-learning algorithms within an AI system can be trained to differentiate between people and objects, recognize various events, such as car chases and shootings, and even identify people caught on tape through its facial-recognition abilities. It also can do some of the officers paperwork.

Once AI recognizes patterns, it tags them appropriately, enabling police officers to browse for a particular scene within a video using keywords, just like via online search engines.

It also can do some of paperwork that consumes a good chunk of police officers time. AI can transcribe verbal interactions as well as handle images and then enter both in reports. With AI working hard as officers personal secretary, he or she will have more time to concentrate on more important matters.

Axon Enterprise Inc. AAXN, -1.69% formerly Taser International and best known for its Taser electroshock weapon, has since diversified into technology products for police officers. Its Axon AI division is now working to create a system that will use enhanced image/video/audio processing and integrate AI and deep-learning capabilities.

As you can see, there are many reasons why using AI and body cameras in police work is a good idea.

However, theres another side to this story.

AIs facial-recognition ability raises privacy concerns, because it allows the police to track down any individual captured on the footage simply by running the video through the algorithm.

The Pentagon's Strategic Capabilities Office aims to "get the military ready to fight tomorrow's war." SCO Director William Roper talked to MarketWatch about how drones, innovation and big data will shape the future of warfare.

This footage be abused by police departments as well as other officials. In addition, hackers, criminals and others could get their hands on it since the data are stored in the cloud. Although faces can be redacted from the videos as its being uploaded, its only a matter of time before systems evolve enough to enable dynamic facial recognition, making these videos even more powerful tools in the hands of individuals or organizations that seek to establish mass surveillance a dream come true for any authoritarian regime.

Finally, some may ask what guarantee there is to prevent for-profit companies from acquiring and reselling police footage on the black market or on the dark web. Criminals can use that information to learn how police operate, for example.

Still I believe these cameras should exist since their benefits outweigh their disadvantages. Could the same be said in five, 10 or 15 years? Only time will tell. In the meantime, you could start wearing these while running errands to trick facial-recognition systems.

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Opinion: How artificial intelligence could transform police body cameras - MarketWatch