Every driver is a suspect

New AI cameras that zoom in on cars to be rolled out in Scotland

- SALLY HIND

NEW AI-controlled "spy" cameras that zoom in on drivers to catch them breaking the law are set to be rolled out in Scotland.

But civil rights groups have the warned cameras are "creepy and instrusive".

The Scottish Government is spending £350,000 on a pilot scheme to test technology which snares "distracted drivers who use smartphones or fail to wear seatbelts.

Previous roll-outs elsewhere in the UK have seen thousands of motorists caught out in a matter of days.

The system uses highdefinition mounted cameras to take instant pictures inside vehicles on the road.

Thousands of images every minute are uploaded into the system and an artificial intelligence system identifies cases where drivers may have broken the law.

System operators assess the images and criminal action can then be taken against wrongdoers.

Jake Hurfurt, head of research and investigations at privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch, said the new contract for Scotland must ensure intrusive surveillance is not used in the place of "human decision making.

He said: "Drivers should not be monitored and potentially criminalised by Al-powered video analysis. This kind of surveillance is creepy and intrusive, and treats every driver it captures as a potential suspect.