This subproject follows the developments related to expanding surveillance in Finland. It investigates machine vision-based technologies implemented by the Finnish police. Consultations began in 2016, within the National Bureau of Investigation, and permission was granted in 2019. The Finnish Police officially uses the face recognition system KASTU but also admitted to using Clearview AI’s FR system (YLE 2019). By reviewing public debates, training manuals and regulations that guide the use of FR, the subproject scrutinizes the development, experimentation with and mundane use of FR technology to shed light on how citizens and their rights are conceptualized in debates over FR and in the training and guidelines regulating the use of FR in policing in Finland.
Saara Särmä
Postdoc reseacher
This project investigates the expanding surveillance infrastructure in Nordic urban environments, examining its effects on community autonomy, democratic values, and human rights. Amidst heightened surveillance practices, including the extensive use of facial recognition technology, the project aims to empower citizens and grassroots activists through the development of a counter-surveillance tool. Utilizing computer vision, this tool seeks to map and make visible the omnipresent surveillance apparatus, revealing its impact on public spaces and civil liberties. Inspired by the concept of “studying up,” this research highlights the role of institutional accountability, positioning the community as active participants in challenging surveillance norms. Through participatory machine learning and collaborative software design, the project provides practical resources to foster informed public debate, enabling communities to critically engage with and potentially counterbalance modern surveillance mechanisms.
YANNIS EFTHYMIOU
Software dev & researcher