Strapping on Anklets, Shocking Suspects, and AI AI AI - Critical Response to Proposed Law Changes for Thuringia Police
Restraints, Electrical Stun Devices, Artificial Intelligence - Controversy Surrounding Proposed Police Legislation - Criticism Over Police Law Proposals Involving Foot-and-Mouth Control, Taser Usage, and AI Integration
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Thuringia's Interior Minister Georg Maier (SPD) aims to beef up the police, aiming to enhance victim protection in the process. However, the plans face significant backlash. If law enforcement officials are to decide in the future if someone gets an ankle monitor instead of a judge? Is a mere suspicion enough? And what kind of data can the police analyze with artificial intelligence (AI)? A preliminary draft of the new police task law has already passed the cabinet. The state parliament still needs to approve the law and changes are still possible. But opposition to the proposal exists, and the traffic light coalition's ability to govern depends heavily on this opposition's support.
Why does the state government want to adjust the police task law?
Interior Minister Maier wants to modernize the law. The employment of AI to aid investigators in netting criminals is one aim. Fulfilling promises from the coalition agreement is another, with electronic ankle monitors for potential victims of domestic violence being one example. Better protection for potential victims and the prevention of crimes are the ultimate goals. The interior spokesperson for the CDU faction, Jonas Urbach, welcomes the plans, stating that "victim protection is our top priority."
What changes are expected?
The proposed draft allows victims of domestic violence to be protected using electronic ankle monitors. The police would have the authority to decide if someone must wear such a device, even in cases where there's only a suspicion that the person might commit a certain crime. Furthermore, the draft provides the police with the freedom to employ AI during investigations. Police officers could receive a new product for deployments: a stun gun that temporarily incapacitates suspects during critical situations. However, these plans are also contentious.
The opposition is concerned about electronic ankle monitors because...
"We see in this draft numerous areas where fundamental rights are infringed upon that we cannot tolerate," says The Left's interior politician Ronald Hande. As an example, he notes the use of electronic ankle monitors for individuals "without any judicial decision." Although he acknowledges the intention to better protect potential victims, Hande believes the proposed regulations go too far. "Without a judicial decision, merely based on suspicion, that is infringement on fundamental rights for us," he explains. Urbach from the CDU believes the regulations are justified for better protecting women from domestic abuse.
Even the largest opposition faction in the Thuringian state parliament, the AfD, shows skepticism towards the proposals. According to AfD interior politician Ringo Mühlmann, the changes are largely unacceptable as they now stand.
What does the opposition think of stun guns?
"These devices are truly very dangerous," says Left interior politician Hande. Current victims in the U.S., where Tasers have been in use for some time, have suffered injuries, even death, he says. "With a pistol, at least I can shoot into the leg," he argues. When deploying a Taser, police officers aren't fully aware of possible underlying medical conditions in the victim that could lead to more severe harm, he warns. "The risk is too high for us." The Left faction fears that officers might resort to Tasers more casually. "The barrier to using a firearm is rightly very high," argued Hande. AfD politician Mühlmann supports the introduction of Tasers. The police need a non-lethal means to quell individuals during certain situations, in his opinion.
Is the use of AI in investigations a fireable offense?
Very contentious. The potential matching of biometric data - like faces and voices - with data found on the internet using automated applications in the draft raises concerns, for example. "Who guarantees that the data I found on the internet is genuine, not fake?" wonders Green politician Madeleine Henfling. If the draft as is is passed, it would be a powerful tool, "because we can no longer control in today's time whether things about us are on the net." She describes a scenario: "You are on vacation and someone takes a photo where you just happen to be in it, and suddenly it can be matched and an automated AI finds your picture on the net. I find that a serious infringement of privacy rights." The Greens have vanished from the parliament.
Mühlmann fears political manipulation if automated data matching is allowed.
What are the chances of the draft getting approved?
CDU, BSW, and SPD form the government in Thuringia, but they do not have a majority in the parliament. The opposition stands in the way of progress. If the coalition fails to win at least one vote from the opposition, they cannot pass the law. The Left and AfD factions have already signaled their disapproval of the draft in its current form. Although BSW is part of the coalition, the BSW faction in the state parliament still calls for caution and seeks to maintain a "careful balance between state powers and the liberty rights of citizens."
- Police
- Georg Maier
- Ankle monitor
- State parliament
- SPD
- Thuringia
- CDU
- AfD
- Victim protection
- Police Task Act
- Erfurt
- Coalition agreement
- The Left
- Stun gun
- Taser
- Investigation
- Artificial Intelligence
- Fundamental rights
- Misuse
- Consent
- Surveillance
- The proposed changes to the Thuringia police task law, which include the use of electronic ankle monitors and stun guns, have raised concerns about infringement on fundamental rights, particularly by the opposition party, The Left, who suggest that the use of ankle monitors without a judicial decision is a breach of these rights.
- The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) in investigations, as proposed in the draft of the police task law, has sparked discussions regarding the misuse of such technology, with concerns about potential manipulation and infringement on privacy rights, as raised by the Green party.
