Big Brother: Argentina will use AI to ‘predict future crimes’

Argentinian President Javier Milei has created a new security unit that will employ machine learning and AI tools to predict crime.

The far-right leader has made sweeping changes to the country’s economic strategy and intends to replace government workers and organizations with AI systems. Last week Milei turned his enthusiasm for AI to the country’s security services.

Milei created the “Artificial Intelligence Applied to Security Unit” (UIAAS) which will use AI to cyber-patrol social media and the internet to “detect potential threats, identify movements of criminal groups or anticipate disturbances.”

The resolution, signed into law by Minister of Security Patricia Bullrich, states, “It is essential to apply artificial intelligence in the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crime and its connections.”

The resolution claims that successes in countries like the USA, China, and Israel justify Argentina’s efforts to deploy AI surveillance of its civilians.

The unit will use AI to “patrol open social networks, applications and Internet sites, as well as the so-called ‘deep Internet’ or ‘Dark Web’”. It will also “Analyze security camera images in real-time to detect suspicious activities or identify wanted persons using easy recognition.”

Milei’s strategy takes a page from Philip K Dick’s Minority Report with AI playing the role of “Precog”. The security services will use “machine learning algorithms to analyze historical crime data to predict future crimes and help prevent them.”

Human rights concerns

The effectiveness of predictive policing is debatable but the human rights issues have especially raised concerns.

The Center for Studies on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information at the University of Palermo expressed concern over the new resolution.

Their research indicates that “these technologies have been used to profile academics, journalists, politicians and activists…without supervision or checks and balances, privacy and freedom of expression are threatened.”

The resolution does not offer insight into how real-time surveillance camera analysis, facial recognition, and social media monitoring will be regulated to protect civilian privacy rights.

Argentina does not have the best human rights track record and in November its contentious election saw both candidates employ AI in questionable campaign and propaganda material.

As AI improves, it’s likely to become more effective at detecting and perhaps even preempting crime but navigating the privacy and societal issues will remain challenging.

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