On Wednesday, December 17, members of the Assemblée Nationale voted to extend the algorithmic video surveillance trial – a controversial security technology tested during the Paris Olympic Games. Although the trial ended in March 2025, it is now set to resume and continue until December 31, 2027.
The extension, long requested by various stakeholders, including the French government, was included in the bill on organizing the 2030 Winter Olympic Games, currently being debated in the Assemblée Nationale. A vote on the full bill is expected on January 6.
Algorithmic video surveillance (VSA) is a technology that analyzes surveillance camera feeds to detect specific predefined events. Several technologies are currently being developed by French companies, including automatic detection of crowd movements, intrusions into restricted areas, people lying on the ground and fire outbreaks.
The new bill does not introduce significant changes in this area and mainly updates the experimental dates set out in the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games law that established the measure.
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