Argentina Launches AI Unit To Predict Crimes, Raises Privacy And Rights Concerns

Argentina's security forces have announced plans to use artificial intelligence to "predict future crimes."

President Javier Milei has recently established the Artificial Intelligence Applied to Security Unit, which will employ "machine-learning algorithms to analyse historical crime data to predict future crime".

The unit is also expected to use facial recognition technology to identify "wanted persons," monitor social media, and analyse real-time security camera footage to spot suspicious activities.

Experts are concerned that the technology might lead to excessive scrutiny of certain groups and are questioning who will have access to the data and how many security personnel will be involved.

Amnesty International warned that the move could infringe on human rights by causing people to self-censor or avoid sharing ideas due to concerns about being monitored by security forces.

The Argentine Center for Studies on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information also warned that such technologies have historically been used to "profile academics, journalists, politicians, and activists," posing a threat to privacy without proper oversight.