Younger Swedish criminals have begun to cross the border into Denmark, sparking a heated debate over the use of facial recognition technology. Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard (Socialdemokratiet) and National Police Commissioner Thorkild Fogde are advocating for new digital tools to combat crime.
During a press conference, Hummelgaard emphasized the importance of solving crimes, even though some political parties have principled objections to the technology. He stated that the potential of this technology to resolve serious crimes weighs significantly in its favor. “I have great respect for the fact that different parties may have principled objections. But for me, it is much more important if this tool can help solve crimes and bring perpetrators to justice,” he said.
National Police Commissioner Thorkild Fogde asserted that this does not involve live surveillance on the streets akin to China, but rather the streamlining of analytical work. By automating the review of large image databases, the police can save extensive time. “As it stands today, the police must expend many man-hours reviewing images. With the technology, one could analyze all of this much faster,” Hummelgaard stated.
Facial recognition could help identify patterns and solve crimes more quickly, which is also intended to serve as a deterrent to criminal activity. The masterminds behind these crimes are often hidden behind encrypted services abroad, complicating investigations further. “The risk of detection is high, and the penalties are severe, and that message needs to reach the other side of the strait. I am not sure that the very young offenders understand what they have gotten themselves into. There is a bill to pay, and it will be high,” Fogde remarked.
Fogde further highlighted that the current situation involving foreign young individuals engaging in crime without prior connections is concerning. “What is new and troubling is the method, where relatively young individuals suddenly step into a criminal environment with which they have no ties,” said the National Police Commissioner.
Politicians are now tasked with considering long-term solutions that will allow Danish police to stay one step ahead of criminals in utilizing digital tools. “We need to lay long-term tracks to ensure that we can continue to stay ahead in the race between criminals and the police regarding who can leverage digital tools most effectively,” concluded Thorkild Fogde.