Due to the proliferation of “intelligent” video devices in public spaces, the French Data Protection Authority (CNIL) launched a public consultation on its draft position concerning the conditions for the deployment of so-called “smart” cameras in public spaces. Following several months of consideration, and various contributions from public and private actors, the Commission published its opinion last July.

With the rapid development of technology, artificial intelligence is becoming more and more sophisticated. This trend has led States to be concerned about the possible consequences that this technology may have on society.

On May 27, 2021, a coalition of civil society groups including Privacy International, the Hermes Center for Transparency and Digital Human Rights, Homo Digitalis and noyb, filed several claims in Europe against the U.S facial recognition firm Clearview AI.

On April 29, 2021, the French Defense Ethics Committee issued an Opinion on the integration of autonomy into lethal weapon systems. Through this work, the Committee aims to establish a clear definition of autonomy and a clear distinction between fully (LAWS) and partially autonomous lethal weapon systems (PAWLS).

The French government issued a decree on March 10, 2021 authorising automated analysis of the rate of compliance with the obligation to wear a mask on public transport

On Thursday 18, 2020, the President of the CNIL issued a warning to a sports club who were considering using a facial recognition system to stop people with stadium bans from attending their games.

On November 2020, the French Ministry of the Interior published a White Paper on internal security. The fourth part of the paper addresses the role of AI in internal security.

A very important White Paper on Internal Security, published on November 16, 2020, by the French Ministry of the Interior, makes several proposals for the use of Facial Recognition Technology (FRT) by public authorities in France.

It is the ALICEM application’s use of biometric data that has been challenged by an association at the French Supreme Administrative Court and a decision has just been announced.

According to an article by Politico on 8 October 2020, 14 EU Member States sent an unofficial document to the European Commission asking it not to over-regulate artificial intelligence.

Initiated by France and Canada, the Partnership also includes Australia, the European Union, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

The need for AI Regulation is obvious and urgent and Governments need to pursue their efforts in this field taking into account three considerations, writes in an Op-Ed for AI-Regulation.com the French Ambassador for Digital Affairs Henri Verdier