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The European Parliament (EP) passed the AI Act, which many believe allows \u201claw enforcement the introduction of error-prone facial surveillance and facial recognition camera software in public spaces,\u201d as Member of Parliament Patrick Breyer said<\/a>.<\/p>\n He explained that while the EP claims the Act limits biometric identification, it monitors behavior. \u201cRather than protecting us from these authoritarian instruments, the AI Act provides an instruction manual for governments to roll out biometric mass surveillance in Europe,\u201d Breyer stated. \u201cAs important as it is to regulate AI technology, defending our democracy against being turned into a high-tech surveillance state is not negotiable for us Pirates.\u201d<\/p>\n MEP Marcel Kolaja echoed Breyer\u2019s comments, noting, \u201cThe national governments have inserted a section that de facto creates a legal framework for widespread snooping on people by biometric cameras.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSuch cameras, equipped with artificial intelligence, are able to recognise people\u2019s faces and thus keep track of who has been where, when, and with whom. The AI Act should have banned such an Orwellian tool, but instead it explicitly legalises it.\u201d<\/p>\n The EP claims<\/a> the Act protects \u201cfundamental rights, democracy, the rule of law and environmental sustainability from high-risk AI, while boosting innovation and establishing Europe as a leader in the field. The regulation establishes obligations for AI based on its potential risks and level of impact.\u201d<\/p>\n