Spies in the sky: how worried should we be about AI-enabled smart lamp-posts?
a day ago
- Smart lamp-posts (iLamps) can recognize number plates and faces, powered by solar panels and capable of acting as AI data centres.
- Concerns include potential for gait analysis, suspicious behavior detection, and the risk of a 'panopticon state' under a home secretary who supports hyper-surveillance.
- Experts question the technical feasibility of AI data centres in lamp-posts due to power and economic limitations, calling some claims 'hype'.
- Data ownership issues arise, as demonstrated by a case where a supplier retained garbage collection data, leaving councils without control.
- Public opinion is mixed: some accept facial recognition as normal, while others fear loss of privacy and jobs, and experts warn of misidentification and future misuse.