Government proposes to set up CCTV cameras in crime-prone areas
The Ministry of the Interior in Schleswig-Holstein is set to revise its security law, with a strong emphasis on European solutions and data protection. The proposed changes aim to strengthen the state police and adapt their powers to modern requirements, while maintaining sensitivity to fundamental rights, as urged by FDP MP Bernd Buchholz.
The draft security law has been met with criticism from Buchholz, who expresses concerns about its potential impact on fundamental rights. He points to numerous measures in the draft that he believes infringe on these rights.
One of the key aspects of the revised law is the expansion of video surveillance at crime hotspots. This will include the use of software capable of recognising patterns, aiming to enhance security in these areas. However, the ministry is critical of non-European providers like the US company Palantir, and instead prefers European analytics software providers that preserve digital sovereignty. The exact name of the preferred provider for automated data analysis remains undisclosed.
The ministry also plans to enable automated data analyses, but only under the strictest legal requirements. Facial recognition will be allowed, but only to avert danger to life and limb. This move comes in response to the increasing number of knife attacks nationwide, with 29,014 offenses involving knives registered in 2024.
The revised security law will also change rules for preventive detention, and will allow for the use of electronic ankle bracelets in certain cases. If there are concrete indications of a threat to life and limb, a faster reaction is required under the new rules. The police will be able to quickly deploy mobile video surveillance systems, such as cameras on vehicles or trailers, in specific danger situations.
The ministry is also in exchange with other federal states on the matter of facial recognition software. This exchange is aimed at ensuring a consistent approach to the use of this technology across Germany.
The implementation of the security law is particularly important, and the ministry plans to prepare the procurement law in parallel, with the intention of going out to tender. The law will create powers for facial recognition, but the ministry is committed to ensuring that these powers are used responsibly and in compliance with data protection regulations.
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