Expansion of police authority defended by Voigt - Police official Voigt advocates for broadening law enforcement capacities
In Thuringia, a draft law proposed by Interior Minister Georg Maier (SPD) and CDU politician Mario Voigt aims to expand police powers significantly, raising concerns over data protection and civil liberties.
The proposed bill intends to implement artificial intelligence technologies in public video surveillance systems, authorize the use of electronic ankle monitors, and broaden general police powers to address rising crime issues. However, these expansions have sparked concerns from civil rights advocates and data protection experts about potential violations of privacy and the adequacy of safeguards against misuse of collected data.
The draft law, still in its early stages, does not provide explicit details about the conditions under which AI can be used or the specific applications for ankle monitors. The Interior Ministry's first draft includes provisions for the use of an electronic ankle monitor even with a suspicion of potential crime.
Critics, including members of The Left and AfD, accuse the state government of introducing a "massive surveillance package." In response, Mario Voigt, Thuringia's Minister-President, defends the plans to reform police powers, stating they represent a "clear commitment to a capable and protective rule of law in Thuringia."
Georg Maier, the Interior Minister and SPD leader, is aiming for a comprehensive amendment to the Police Task Act to modernize the legal foundations of police work. He emphasizes that he is not aiming to create a surveillance state but rather to ensure the protection of victims, particularly victims of domestic violence.
The use of artificial intelligence under certain conditions, such as for the automated evaluation of video surveillance, is also being considered in the draft law. However, concerns about the integration of AI-driven surveillance and tracking measures persist, with Ronald Hande from The Left faction in Thuringia criticizing the planned comparison of biometric data from faces and voices with data from the internet as a potential threat to fundamental rights and the creation of a dangerous surveillance state.
The state data protection officer sees a need for further revision in the draft law, reflecting the ongoing debate over the expansion and limitation of police powers and data protection concerns in Erfurt. The coalition government, led by Mario Voigt, consisting of CDU, BSW, and SPD, is dependent on the voting behavior of the opposition, making the resolution of these issues crucial for the future of the state.
- The proposed changes to Thuringia's draft law, encompassing community policy and employment policy, such as the implementation of AI technologies in public surveillance and the use of electronic ankle monitors, have ignited debate about policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news, particularly concerning data protection and civil liberties.
- Amid the controversy over the draft law's potential violations of privacy and the adequacy of safeguards against misuse of collected data, elements of crime-and-justice come into play, with critics accusing the state government of introducing a "massive surveillance package," an allegation the Minister-President, Mario Voigt, defends as a "clear commitment to a capable and protective rule of law in Thuringia."
