AI takes center stage in European policing and election concerns.
In a surprising twist, most Europeans are saying “yes” to AI-powered surveillance, even as worries about election meddling grow. A new study reveals a complex picture of how people view artificial intelligence in public life.
IE University in Madrid recently dropped a bombshell report. According to their “European Tech Insights” study, a staggering 75% of Europeans support the use of AI technology such as facial recognition by police and soldiers for surveillance purposes. This is pretty shocking, given that Europe is known for having some of the toughest data privacy rules on the planet.
Let’s break it down:
- The use of AI for police and military surveillance is acceptable to 3 out of 4 Europeans.
- Even more (79%) are happy for AI to help with stuff like managing traffic.
- But when it comes to touchy subjects like deciding who gets out of jail early, most people (64%) say AI should back off.
Ikhlaq Sidhu, the big boss at IE University’s School of Science and Technology, thinks people might not have thought this through. He told reporters, “It’s not clear that the public has really considered what these AI apps could mean in the long run.”
AI at the Ballot Box: A Cause for Concern?
While Europeans seem pretty chill about AI watching their backs, they’re not so relaxed when it comes to voting. The study found that 67% of Europeans are worried AI might mess with elections.
Here’s the scary part: almost a third of Europeans (31%) reckon AI has already swayed how they vote. With the U.S. election coming up in November, where Kamala Harris will face off against Donald Trump, these fears are more relevant than ever.
AI has the potential to rapidly dissemiOne major concern is the emergence of “deepfakes,” which are incredibly realistic yet completely fake videos or audio clips created by AI. audio clips made by AI. Politicians could use these to appear to be saying things they never actually said.
Sidhu points out that this isn’t exactly new. “AI and deepfakes are just the latest in a long line of things that mess with the truth online,” he says. The situation has been deteriorating since the advent of the internet and social media.
The Generation Gap
The study also found that young folks and older people see AI very differently:
- About 1 in 3 people aged 18 to 34 would trust an AI app to vote for them.
- For 35- to 44-year-olds, that drops to 29%.
- Only 9% of people 65 and up would let AI cast their vote.
This shows there’s a big split in how different age groups view AI’s role in democracy.
What Does This Mean for the Future?
Europe’s love affair with AI surveillance is surprising, given its tough stance on data privacy. The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) can slap companies with massive fines—up to 4% of their global income or 20 million euros (about $21.7 million), whichever hurts more—for messing up people’s data.
But even with these strict rules, Europeans seem to trust AI when it comes to keeping them safe. Law enforcement and the military across Europe may use more AI technology as a result.
Simultaneously, the concern over AI influencing elections serves as a warning. As AI gets better at creating fake content, we might need new ways to spot what’s real and what’s not when we’re deciding who to vote for.
The generation gap in AI trust also hints at big changes coming. As more young, AI-savvy voters enter the voting pool, attitudes may change further.
One thing’s for sure: AI is here to stay, and it’s going to keep shaking things up in ways we’re only just starting to understand. AI is transforming the landscape in Europe and beyond, whether it’s assisting law enforcement in capturing criminals or raising questions about the authenticity of a politician’s video.
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