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The French government is stepping up its online surveillance capabilities with plans to track searches made by citizens on platforms like Google, TikTok and Instagram through the use ofartificial intelligence. This system, part of a new call for tenders launched by the Government Information Service, aims to anticipate societal trends and potentially identifiable by weak signals. The main objective is to identify the concerns and expectations of the population in response to government actions, while respecting the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
France is stepping up efforts to monitor the online activities of its citizens by exploiting the capabilities of artificial intelligence. A new call for tenders has been launched to strengthen the monitoring of searches carried out on platforms such as Google, TikTok and Instagram. This project, mainly targeting public communications on social networks, aims to detect weak signals and anticipate crises through real-time analysis carried out by AI systems. However, this initiative raises ethical concerns regarding mass data collection.
The recent call for tenders from the Government Information Service (GIS) marks an important step towards increased surveillance of French citizens’ online searches. This project, whose objective is to capture weak signals from public opinion, is part of an approach to social listening, allowing discussions on political figures like Emmanuel Macron or Michel Barnier to be analyzed in real time.
Ethical issues and concerns
This movement towards a more detailed observation of the activity of citizens raises ethical questions. Critics of this project highlight the risks associated with the massive data collection and large-scale analysis enabled by AI. Despite assurances regarding compliance with the GDPR, the use of artificial intelligence to monitor online searches is sparking a debate on the confidentiality and individual freedoms.
In response to these concerns, the adoption of advanced technologies of encryption, like homomorphic encryption, is being considered to provide more security and ensure that sensitive user information is not exposed. These techniques could help preserve confidentiality, while allowing the analysis necessary to anticipate social movements.
The application of artificial intelligence
To carry out this ambitious project, the use of artificial intelligence is essential. AI makes it possible to process a large amount of data to detect warning signals of social crises, such as that of the Yellow Vests. By integrating the analytical capabilities of AI, the government hopes to strengthen its understanding of social dynamics before they become larger.
