Join the #SafetyNotSurveillance coalition in Manchester as we explore how AI and ‘crime-predicting’ technologies are currently being used by Greater Manchester Police, the harms and risks of their continues roll out, and what action local communities and councils can take to invest in true, lasting community safety – not surveillance.

• WHEN
  Thursday 24 September, 6-9pm BST

• WHERE
  Central Hall (Collier Room), Oldham Street, Manchester M1 1JQ

• SPEAKERS
  Sarah Lasoye (Open Rights Group)
  Dr Patrick Williams
  Kids of Colour
  Northern Police Monitoring Project

In the last year, we’ve seen dramatic escalations in the use of AI tools across UK policing. In January, the Home Office announced its plans to invest £115 million into PoliceAI – accelerating the roll out of AI technologies across all 43 forces in England and Wales. These range from administrative tools, to flawed live facial recognition cameras and so called ‘crime-prediction’ and ‘risk-scoring’ systems that rely on algorithmic models. Just this month, we’ve seen GMP deploy facial recognition at Manchester Caribbean Carnival.

We’ve seen police forces push ahead with these technologies, justifying their use with the paternalistic argument that the presumed benefits of embedding surveillance across public life, outweigh any consequent harms to the public.

What we don’t want, is policing without fully-informed consent by the public, and particularly, racialised and marginalised communities whose views and voices are routinely sidelined.

Refreshments and food will be provided 🥘