Page 22 - Security Today, November/December 2024

S E C U R I T Y T R E N D S
banned outright.
High-risk applications — such as a
resume-scanning tool used to sort and pri-
oritize job applications — are fi ne to use
but have specifi c guidelines they need to
follow.
Low-risk applications that do not fall
into either category are generally unregu-
lated, though there is always the possibil-
ity that they might be reconsidered as the
technology evolves.
This has implications for the security
industry, where solutions like facial rec-
ognition have obvious privacy consider-
ations that need to be addressed. The EU
AI Act does a respectable job of creating a
clear delineation of responsibility, under-
scoring that both the manufacturer of an
AI solution and the end user are each ac-
countable for aspects of its use.
For manufacturers, it is important to
limit the potential for abuse when creat-
ing a solution. But when a customer signs
the invoice to buy a solution, the respon-
sibility for using it appropriately shifts to
them. That means customers who misuse
AI-based solutions to engage in risky or in-
appropriate behavior will quickly run afoul
of the new law. But it also means a solution
that creates an “unacceptable risk” with no
other practical application will probably
get the manufacturer in hot water.
The EU is not alone. In the United
States, the Biden administration issued a
2023 executive order that took inspiration
from the EU AI Act, outlining positive and
negative use cases for AI. While not as com-
prehensive as the EU law, the executive or-
der laid important groundwork — and we
can almost certainly expect more thorough
legislation in the coming years. Organiza-
tions in the security industry need to ensure
that any AI-based analytics they provide
are built with responsible use in mind.
BODY-WORN REGULATIONS
COULD BE NEXT
With regulatory oversight trending up-
ward, the security industry should look
at not just recently passed laws, but those
likely to come soon. The market for body-
worn cameras is steadily growing — once
used primarily in the law enforcement
fi eld, a growing number of organizations
2 2 joelia/stock.adobe.com
“Regulations are nothing new, but recent
developments underscore the fact that even
local regulations can have a global impact —
and as the pace of technological advancement
has increased, governments around the world
have been racing to catch up.”
are fi nding that body-worn devices can be
used in a variety of innovative ways.
Retail organizations are increasingly
using body-worn cameras to prevent theft,
keep employees protected from disruptive
customers, and help ensure a high level of
service. Retail is not alone — healthcare
and education have taken a similar ap-
proach, using body-worn devices to pro-
tect doctors, nurses and teachers, along-
side hospitality businesses like large event
venues and cruise lines.
Many states now have regulations
mandating the use of body-worn cameras
by law enforcement offi cers (the Bureau of
Justice Assistance provides a useful break-
down of regulations across the United
States), but there are — so far — few that
govern their use outside of law enforce-
ment. But if adoption of body-worn cam-
eras continues to expand in other indus-
tries, it is likely just a matter of time before
regulators begin to expand their reach.
Both manufacturers and end users will
need to ensure that these devices are being
use appropriately and responsibly.
PRIORITIZING ETHICAL
AND RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR
Regulations are nothing new, but recent de-
velopments underscore the fact that even
local regulations can have a global impact
— and as the pace of technological advance-
ment has increased, governments around
the world have been racing to catch up.
Rather than dealing with these new
laws as they emerge, businesses can set
themselves up for long-term success by
keeping one eye on the future, planning
for rules and regulations long before they
take effect.
Of course, the most effective plan is to
engage in responsible business practices
independent of legal considerations —
and as new regulations appear, businesses
that prioritize ethical
behavior will fi nd them-
selves well positioned
for the future.
Fredrik Nilsson is the
vice president, Americas
at Axis Communications.
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