Looting incidents in France

More than 3,000 businesses were vandalized and looted in France on October 17, leading to widespread damage and arrests for violence or theft.

Investigation methods

Investigators are using surveillance videos and social media content to identify perpetrators. Police are employing artificial intelligence software called "Citadel" developed by the French startup Orasio to analyze video footage.

AI tool capabilities

The "Citadel" software allows investigators to make natural language queries to find suspects in thousands of hours of video. It can trace movements and detect specific details, such as clothing or items carried by individuals.

Legal restrictions on facial recognition

Facial recognition is prohibited in France except for specific cases allowed by the European AI Act and the GDPR. However, the Minister of Justice has indicated that it may be used to compare social media images with the TAJ (Judicial Antecedents Processing) database.

Evidence collection efforts

Starting on October 18, judicial police and forensic technicians collected evidence from looted sites, including fingerprints, DNA, and surveillance footage. They also obtained recordings from transportation, parking lots, and public buildings.

Social media as a resource

The Paris police prefecture launched a platform to collect videos filmed by witnesses of the looting. Investigators are using these videos alongside other footage to identify suspects.

Citadel's video processing power

Citadel can handle large volumes of video, with some investigations involving footage equivalent to 9 years of recordings. Investigators can input queries in natural language, such as describing an individual's clothing or items, to filter relevant footage.

Tracking vehicles and individuals

The software can track vehicles by license plate and retrace their paths using camera locations and timestamps. If a license plate is not available, it can search for specific vehicle details or distinctive signs on individuals.

Limitations on biometric data

Facial recognition remains prohibited in France, although the Minister of Justice has promised to use it for comparing social media images with the TAJ database. Orasio's tools can integrate into live city surveillance networks in other countries where regulations allow it.

Regulatory constraints in France

French law restricts the use of algorithmic surveillance, particularly for biometric data. The European AI Act and Article 9 of the GDPR regulate exceptions, but the use of AI to detect physical characteristics or behaviors for prevention remains prohibited.