Warning for drivers as new ‘AI’ speed camera spies INSIDE your car with chilling 4D scanning
THE world’s first AI speed camera has been put up in Britain — and it can spy on drivers inside their cars.
The 10-inch unit’s “4D” radar and super-resolution cameras are able to spot motorists on mobile phones or without seatbelts, and if too many people are inside.
As well as dishing out fines for speeding and jumping red lights, The Redspeed Sentio camera can be linked to DVLA and police databases to check tax and insurance on the spot.
They can monitor six lanes night and day and be combined with other units to check average speeds.
And the solar-powered units could even be deployed overnight.
Critics have branded the new camera “Big Brother’s cash machine”.
Brian Gregory, from the Alliance of British Drivers, said: “Technology has ceased to be our facilitator and has been transformed into a force for ever-strengthening oppression.
“It’s clear that the hollow assurances the motoring public was given about speed cameras being used exclusively to prevent accidents was always a total sham.
“The objective is actually to maximise their revenue-generating potential.”
The camera has been installed on the busy A23 in Lambeth, South London, as part of a Transport for London trial before it can be given Home Office approval.
Makers Redspeed International say on their website: “Redspeed Sentio is designed to be whatever camera you want it to be.
“In combining several key enforcement applications and having AI at its heart, Redspeed Sentio has the built-in modular flexibility, capability and scalability to meet virtually any future challenge.”
Lawyer Nick Freeman — who specialises in motoring offences and is known as Mr Loophole for getting celebs off charges — said: “As drivers we are all becoming sitting ducks.
“It could help alleviate the lack of police on our roads. But we will always be missing something when we don’t have that human element any more. It could just be a step too far.”
Campaigner Jake Hurfurt, head of research and investigations at Big Brother Watch, said:
“This kind of intrusive and creepy surveillance which treats every passer-by as a potential suspect is excessive and normalising it poses a threat to everyone’s privacy.
“People should be free to go about their lives without being analysed by faceless AI systems.”
There are around 7,000 speed cameras across the UK – although up to half can be switched off at any one time.
London has just under 1,000 and mayor Sadiq Khan has pushed for more.
Safety groups say figures show fatalities within 1,600ft of cameras have fallen by 58 per cent.
But critics say they are used as money-spinners, with £45.7million collected in 2021-2022 alone.
Last night TfL insisted the “AI functionality” was not currently in use and no tickets would be issued during the trial period.
WATCHDOG TO PROBE AI
BRITAIN’S competition watchdog is launching a review of the artificial intelligence (AI) market, including popular chatbots such as ChatGPT.
The Competition and Markets Authority said it will look at both the opportunities and risks of AI.
It comes amid growing concerns over the rapid development of generative AI, which can create text and images that are barely distinguishable from output by humans.