Open Letter: The AI video surveillance measures in the Olympics Games 2024 law violate human rights

In an open letter, EDRi, ECNL, La Quadrature du Net, Amnesty International France and 34 civil society organisations call on the French Parliament to reject Article 7 of the proposed law on the 2024 Olympics and Paralympic Games (projet de loi relatif aux jeux Olympiques et Paralympiques de 20241).

This provision creates a legal basis for the use of algorithm-driven cameras to detect specific suspicious events in public spaces. The proposal paves the way for the use of invasive algorithm-driven video surveillance under the pretext of securing big events.

Under this law, France would become the first EU member state to explicitly legalise such practices. The proposed surveillance measures violate international human rights law as they contravene the principles of necessity and proportionality, and pose unacceptable risks to fundamental rights, such as the right to privacy, the freedom of assembly and association, and the right to non-discrimination.

The signatories call on the French Parliament to consider rejecting Article 7 and to open up the issue for further discussion with civil society. Otherwise, its adoption would establish a worrying precedent of unjustified and disproportionate surveillance in publicly accessible spaces to the detriment of fundamental rights and freedoms.