France protests: Invisible ink tracks demonstrators
A French parliamentary report includes 30 recommendations to enhance tools for identifying protesters using advanced technologies such as chemical tagging and image surveillance.
Translated by Qiyas from النهار — Original source
Paris – Agencies: The technology of invisible chemical tagging has returned to the center of controversy in France, following the submission of parliamentary recommendations to expand the use of technological means that enable the identification of suspects after the dispersal of protests. This move has raised questions about the protection of the right to protest and the risk of mistakenly suspecting individuals who did not participate in violent acts. French media outlets published details of a parliamentary report containing 30 recommendations on protest management, including strengthening tools for identifying and subsequently arresting suspects, as well as expanding the use of surveillance technologies, such as drones and image analysis tools. These recommendations come amid a debate on public order methods following violent acts and looting that accompanied demonstrations on October 17. Media also reported demands from police officers for the deployment of a device that fires small balls containing synthetic tagging material, aimed at leaving a mark on individuals from a distance, potentially enabling their later identification.
