AI surveillance to make Estonia safer

Text Stewart Johnson

Photo Andrei Chertkov

Security cameras powered by artificial intelligence are the Estonian government’s plan to crack down on already low levels of crime, and traffic infringements. A nationwide network is in the works, and the relevant studies are expected to be completed by 2027. It is not without irony to say that these studies could probably be completed more quickly with the help of AI.

The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) will also be outfitting their patrol cars with “mobile autonomous cameras”, designed to automatically record traffic violations, such as speeding, distracted driving (for example driving and texting), and running red lights. Tickets and fines for violations would in theory be issued without the need for human intervention, substantially speeding up the process of reprimanding drivers who speed.

The countrywide plan, proposed by the Ministry of the Interior, will use facial recognition as well as licence plate recognition in an effort to deter would-be criminals. AI-based facial recognition services have been incorporated into passport control in several countries in the past couple of years, with a near-perfect record. It is unclear if this same technology would be used in Tallinn and the rest of Estonia, and what recourse suspected criminals would have if they say they have been falsely identified. Yet due to the highly accurate nature of this cutting-edge tech, crimes, such as pickpocketing, will become highly difficult to commit without being apprehended. This will work as a powerful deterrence.

One of the main benefits of using AI-based surveillance in Estonia’s cities will be increased safety for foreign tourists. This could prove to be a boon to tourism in a country that is already considered extremely safe.

Estonia also recently made headlines with their announcement that schools nationwide would be the first in the world to implement AI into the learning curriculum, with the ChatGPT Edu programme.

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