France to keep an eye on residents by digital monitoring to enforce safety and social distancing laws when Coronavirus lockdown eases off.

France to keep an eye on residents by digital monitoring to enforce safety and social distancing laws when Coronavirus lockdown eases off.

FRANCE will use video surveillance to monitor how many people are wearing masks and if residents are complying with social distancing when the Coronavirus lockdown is eased next week.
The resort city of Cannes on the Côte d’Azur has trialled the monitoring software, installed at outdoor markets and on buses.

Artificial intelligence (AI) innovations are being adopted worldwide in the rush to stop the spread of Covid-19. However, under emergency laws, the use of these high tech tools has raised the alarm about possible invasions of privacy. French firm Datakalab says its software does not violate EU data privacy law.
“No image is stored or transmitted, ensuring that personal information is protected,” Datakalab said, announcing its collaboration with Cannes City Hall, ahead of the May 11relaxation of France’s tough lockdown. The French surveillance system includes an automatic alert to city authorities and police when breaches of the face mask and social distancing rules are spotted. But Datakalab insists that it is “not facial recognition,” as the system does not store identifying data. Their systems algorithms can be incorporated into existing surveillance systems in other public spaces, such as hospitals, stations, airports and shopping centres.

Cannes mayor David Lisnard said, “This technology doesn’t identify people but just gives us mathematical analysis to meet people’s needs.”