Paris considering AI-assisted Olympics Games’ surveillance

PARIS—French government plans to trial surveillance cameras upgraded with artificial intelligence at the 2024 Olympics have opponents fuming at what they say is unnecessary and dangerous security overreach.

While the government says such systems are needed to manage millionsstrong crowds and spot potential dangers, critics see the draft law as a gift to French industry at the cost of vital civil liberties.

Last week, around 40 mostly left-leaning members of the European Parliament warned in an open letter to French lawmakers that the plan “creates a surveillance precedent never before seen in Europe”, daily Le Monde reported.

Debates kicked off late Monday in the National Assembly, France’s lower parliamentary chamber, with discussions to continue Friday.

Even before the debates started, MPs had already filed 770 amendments to the government’s wide-ranging Olympics security

Daniella Uy moves in the threshold of scoring a followup to her fiveshot romp over Chihiro Ikeda in the 2021 Riviera Ladies Championship. Manny Marcelo bill, many aimed at its Article Seven. That section provides for video recorded by existing surveillance systems or new ones -- including drone-mounted cameras -- to be “processed by algorithms”.

Artificial intelligence software would “detect in real time pre-determined events likely to pose or reveal a risk” of “terrorist acts or serious breaches of security”, such as unusual crowd movements or abandoned bags. Systems would then signal the events to police or other security services, who could decide on a response.

Biometric or not?

The government is at pains to reassure that the smart camera tests would

A drone flies over Saint-Cloud, as the Eiffel Tower is seen in Paris. An attack during the Paris Olympics using drones is a scenario that is being taken into account by the French authorities, who have promised an “unparalleled” defence system. In the past several years, the use of drones sold for civilian purposes has been diverted by armed or criminal groups to carry out attacks. AFP not process biometric data and especially not resort to facial recognition, technologies the French public is wary of applying too broadly. AFP

ILOILO—Daniella Uy took a step closer to matching her runaway breakthrough win at Riviera two years ago as she closed out with a birdie-birdie feat for a 70 in steamy conditions and doubled her overnight three-stroke lead over Rianne Malixi after two rounds of the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge presented by MORE Power here yesterday.

Malixi actually matched Uy’s closing birdie but the country’s leading amateur could only save a 73, enabling the former Junior World champion to pull away by six on a 137 total and move in the threshold of scoring a follow-up to her five-shot romp over Chihiro Ikeda in the 2021 Riviera Ladies Championship at the hazard-laden Langer course in Cavite.

Malixi’s last-hole birdie also somewhat cushioned the impact of her double-bogey mishap on the par-3 16th but she dropped farther behind at 143 while erstwhile joint second-running Harmie Constantino also reeled back with a double bogey on the par-5 14th for a 74 and a 144 heading to the final 18 holes of the P875,000 championship.

Florence Bisera carded a 72 for a 145, while amateur Laurea Duque fought back with a 73 to tie Sunshine Baraquiel, who made a 75, and Sarah Ababa, who shot a 76, at 148.

Chanelle Avaricio, who rallied from 8 strokes down to beat Ababa by one at Marapara last week, battled back with a 72 after a 77 but she stood way off at 149 with Chihiro Ikeda, who put in a 72, Pamela Mariano, who carded a 74, and amateur Mafy Singson, who made a 75.

Despite her huge lead, Uy has opted to tone down expectations, aware of the exacting playing conditions and Ababa’s final round meltdown in Bacolod.

“Same mindset, not to expect anything, don’t get too emotional and just try to be calm out there,” said Uy, who like the rest of the field, is putting premium on stamina and on how to cope with the debilitating summer heat.