Dutch police use of AI lacks regulation, threatening civil rights, report warns
The Dutch police increasingly rely on artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithms, but there is no clear legal framework or independent supervision for their use, putting citizens’ fundamental rights at risk, according to a report published Thursday by the Scientific Advisory Board for the Police. The advisory board calls for an independent commission to oversee how police collect and process data.
Rapid technological advances and poor coordination among multiple police projects have left authorities unclear on the exact nature of AI deployment within law enforcement. The advisory board described the current situation as “innovation without direction,” lacking clear guidelines and appropriate legislation. This creates risks not only for citizens but also for police officers, who, due to the absence of a solid legal foundation, find themselves operating in what the board calls a “no man’s land.”
Another challenge is the fragmented legal framework governing data collection and processing by the police. Multiple laws apply, but they cannot be treated separately, the board warns, as this complicates accountability and oversight.
The report points out that these issues have been known since 2018. “Remarkably little concrete follow-up has taken place since then, while the problem has only grown more urgent in practice,” the advisory board stated.
The Scientific Advisory Board urges immediate action to establish clear regulations and independent oversight to safeguard citizens’ rights and provide legal clarity for police use of AI and data technologies. Without such measures, both citizens and officers allegedly face significant risks tied to the rapid and unregulated adoption of AI in policing.
