South Korea’s Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute has unveiled “Dejaview” – an AI system that analyzes CCTV footage to detect and potentially prevent criminal activity. Dejaview uses machine learning to analyze patterns and identify signs of impending crimes, considering factors like time of day, location, past incident records, and other variables to assess the risk of something suspicious occurring.
Dejaview operates in two key ways. The first is a time/space-based prediction model that evaluates elements such as whether a crime previously occurred in a remote area late at night. If a quiet, isolated location shares similar environmental factors with a past late-night crime, the system assesses a high risk of another incident.
The second component of Dejaview is called ‘individual-centered recidivism prediction.’ It zeros in on individuals considered “high risk” for repeating the same offenses. By tracking their movement patterns, the technology can analyze whether their behavior signals they might commit another crime soon.
Dejaview was trained on a massive dataset of CCTV clips capturing various incidents across a three-year span. The AI learned to recognize patterns from this data, and now applies that knowledge to live scenarios. The technology is expected to be limited to public safety infrastructure like airports, energy facilities, factories, and national event monitoring, with commercial use for specialized security agencies expected by the end of 2025.
The use of AI-powered crime prediction raises concerns about individual tracking and surveillance. While Dejaview’s application is currently limited, other countries like Argentina are also exploring similar technologies. As the use of AI in crime prevention expands, it is likely to spark debates about the balance between public safety and individual freedom.