Europeans Overwhelmingly Support AI for Police and Military Operations
A recent report by Madrid’s IE University has revealed that a staggering 75% of Europeans support the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for police and military operations, including facial recognition and biometric data for surveillance purposes. This level of support is particularly surprising given Europe’s strict data privacy regulations.
Surveillance and Public Administration
The report, which surveyed over 3,000 people in Europe, found that support for AI in public service tasks such as traffic optimization was even higher, at 79%. However, when it comes to sensitive matters like parole decisions, most Europeans (64%) oppose the use of AI.
Concerns about AI Manipulation in Elections
Despite support for AI in public administration and security matters, people appear to be much more concerned about its role in the democratic process. A significant 67% of Europeans fear AI manipulation in elections, with concerns that AI can be used to amplify misinformation and subvert opinions.
Deepfakes and Generative AI
The rise of generative AI platforms has raised concerns about the creation of deepfakes, synthetic images, videos, or audio clips that can be used to misrepresent politicians’ views or spread misinformation. Some 31% of Europeans think that AI has already influenced their voting decisions.
Generational AI Divide
The report also found a generational AI divide in Europe. While 34% of people aged between 18 and 34 would trust an AI-powered app to vote for politicians on their behalf, this figure falls to 29% for people aged 35 to 44, and just 9% for individuals aged 65 and over.
Implications and Concerns
The findings of the report raise important questions about the use of AI in public life and the need for greater transparency and accountability. As Ikhlaq Sidhu, dean of the IE University’s School of Science and Technology, noted, “It is not clear that the public has thought about the ramifications of these [AI] applications.”
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