To put an end to the series of violence in the subway, the city of New York is banking on scanners powered by artificial intelligence. But the technology is controversial.
A never-ending series of violence. A man was shot dead with his own gun after shooting another passenger in mid-March on the New York subway. A month earlier, shots fired at a station in the Bronx left one dead and five injured. At the end of February, a subway conductor was also stabbed in a Brooklyn station.
To stop this series of violence in the American megalopolis, the city of New York will test artificial intelligence to detect the presence of weapons in the subway, announced the mayor, Eric Adams.
Able to identify any type of weapon
Concretely, the city is partnering with Evolv, specialized in security technologies, to place portable AI-powered scanners at metro turnstiles. Once the weapon is detected, the device contacts the authorities directly. The exact location of the scanners and their number have not yet been specified.
“This announcement complements our ongoing efforts to prevent dangerous weapons from entering our transportation system,” Adams said.
In its FAQ, the company affirm that the scanners use “safe, ultra-low frequency electromagnetic fields and advanced sensors to detect concealed weapons.” And, according to Evolv CEO Peter George, interviewed by The Verge, the technology is capable of identifying any type of weapon, from bombs to guns to knives. In total, more than 400 weapons would be detected every day in the United States thanks to the device.
The project will begin in 90 days, consistent with the notice required by municipal law for new surveillance technologies in New York. The city will take advantage of this delay to select other AI-powered technologies in order to detect weapons most effectively.
A controversial technology
Because Evolv scanners, already used at Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and in several schools, are the subject of two government investigations. The US Competition Authority (FTC) opened an investigation to determine whether Evllov’s detection system was sufficiently reliable. The SEC also launched an informational investigation.
Selon The Intercept, technology would have in fact confused umbrellas with firearms and lunch boxes with bombs. On the other hand, the scanners would not have detected knives in the students’ bags.
The announcement of the use of these scanners to detect weapons in the metro sparked widespread criticism. “Gun detection systems are faulty and frequently trigger false alarms,” said in a statement from the Legal Aid Society.
The association for the defense of the rights of New Yorkers also raised issues of respect for private life. “New York City should not be used as a testing ground for surveillance companies. The public has not consented to participate in this experiment.”
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2024-03-29 10:04:41
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