Argentinian President Javier Milei has created a brand new security unit that can employ machine learning and AI tools to predict crime.
The far-right leader has made sweeping changes to the country’s economic strategy and intends to interchange government staff and organizations with AI systems. Last week Milei turned his enthusiasm for AI to the country’s security services.
Milei created the “Artificial Intelligence Applied to Security Unit” (UIAAS) which can use AI to cyber-patrol social media and the web to “detect potential threats, discover movements of criminal groups or anticipate disturbances.”
The resolution, signed into law by Minister of Security Patricia Bullrich, states, “It is crucial to use artificial intelligence within the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crime and its connections.”
The resolution claims that successes in countries just like the USA, China, and Israel justify Argentina’s efforts to deploy AI surveillance of its civilians.
The unit will use AI to “patrol open social networks, applications and Internet sites, in addition to the so-called ‘deep Internet’ or ‘Dark Web’”. It may also “Analyze security camera images in real-time to detect suspicious activities or discover wanted individuals using easy recognition.”
Milei’s strategy takes a page from Philip K Dick’s Minority Report with AI playing the role of “Precog”. The security services will use “machine learning algorithms to research historical crime data to predict future crimes and help prevent them.”
Human rights concerns
The effectiveness of predictive policing is debatable however the human rights issues have especially raised concerns.
The Center for Studies on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information on the University of Palermo expressed concern over the brand new resolution.
Their research indicates that “these technologies have been used to profile academics, journalists, politicians and activists…without supervision or checks and balances, privacy and freedom of expression are threatened.”
The resolution doesn’t offer insight into how real-time surveillance camera evaluation, facial recognition, and social media monitoring can be regulated to guard civilian privacy rights.
Argentina doesn’t have one of the best human rights track record and in November its contentious election saw each candidates employ AI in questionable campaign and propaganda material.
As AI improves, it’s more likely to grow to be more practical at detecting and even perhaps preempting crime but navigating the privacy and societal issues will remain difficult.
