As revealed by BFMTV, algorithmic video surveillance cameras (VSA) will be tested from April 19 to 22. It is during a Black Eyed Peas concert at La Défense Arena and the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais that this device will be deployed.
Two orders issued by the authorities
SNCF and RATP received authorization from the Paris police headquarters on Wednesday April 17 to use the VSA for these events. A first experiment had already taken place during a Depeche Mode concert at the Bercy Arena as part of the Olympic and Paralympic Games law, which was passed on March 3 and 5, 2023.
A first decree issued by the Paris police headquarters explains that “RATP security service is authorized to implement the algorithmic processing called Cityvision and developed by the company Wintics from April 20 at 2 p.m. to April 21, 2024 at 6 a.m., on the occasion of the concert of the group Black Eyed Peas in the concert hall Paris La Défense Arena on April 20, 2024”.
The VSA will use images from security cameras at Nanterre-Préfecture (RER A) and La Défense-Grande Arche (RER A and metro line 1) stations.
As for the second decree from the police headquarters, it allows the SNCF to use “images from the 118 cameras installed at the Paris-Gare de Lyon station and the Garigliano bridge” as part of the meeting between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais, “from April 19 to 22”.
The stations involved in this experiment will display signs indicating that the technology is being used in this context.
The decrees specify that “the operations of collection, consultation, communication, modification and deletion of images subject to algorithmic analysis, as well as the reports generated by the processing are subject to recording. This data is kept for twelve months”.
What will algorithmic video surveillance enable?
VSA will allow cameras to identify individuals who enter prohibited or sensitive areas, to detect abandoned luggage, crowd movements or a high density of users in possibly dangerous proportions.
The authorities specify that the VSA does not use facial recognition software. The technology will also be trialled during the 2024 Olympics.