To gain early indications of criminal activity, the police force in Sachsen-Anhalt plans to analyze public behavior using artificial intelligence (AI). This view was expressed by State Interior Minister Tamara Zieschang (CDU), who told the “Mitteldeutsche Zeitung” that such AI technologies could significantly aid crime prevention and investigation at known crime hotspots.
Specifically, the programs being discussed are designed to identify suspicious patterns within video footage gathered from public surveillance cameras, such as those positioned at train stations. However, Zieschang noted a major legal hurdle: the current police law in Sachsen-Anhalt does not permit the evaluation of biometric data. She emphasized that there is a clear need for action, pointing out that society’s expectations for the police include utilizing modern technology to improve public safety, a goal that AI could support.
To move forward, she stated that the introduction of such technology requires three prerequisites: robust legal authorization, very high data privacy standards, and comprehensive technical and organizational strategies. The CDU politician affirmed her willingness to create the necessary legal framework for using AI within the state. “After all” she concluded, “it cannot be acceptable that criminals have more operational opportunities than the police do”.