Nine German Laender have either already authorised or are planning to authorise AI surveillance tools for police use, netzpolitik.org reported on 8 May 2026. The package being legalised across multiple states includes Palantir-style bulk data analysis, live facial recognition and AI video behaviour scanners. Schleswig-Holstein’s draft police law received its first parliamentary reading on 6 May, prompting organised resistance from football supporters in Kiel and civil society coalitions including Kameras Stoppen and Kein Palantir. The national network Sicherheit ohne Ãœberwachung is organising a demonstration in Berlin on 13 June 2026 against federal laws enabling a facial image search engine, Palantir-style data analysis and data retention. The BKA’s GES facial recognition system was searched 313,500 times by criminal investigation offices in 2025 — more than double the 121,000 searches in 2024 — and AI automation is expected to reduce dedicated BKA personnel by around 50 posts by end of 2026.
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Thursday, May 14, 2026
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