FALCON POWERS – The security measures taken during the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival will be distinguished by the use of several modern technological innovations, such as artificial intelligence and QR codes. The cinematic event will serve as an occasion to test these measures, coinciding with the heightened security alert for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games. With the expected attendance of numerous celebrities, along with their fans seeking glimpses of them, and 4,500 accredited journalists, the festival’s activities, scheduled between May 14th and 25th, will be monitored by 17 “artificial intelligence-powered video surveillance cameras,” as announced by the municipality of Cannes.
These devices have been installed “as an experimental measure” in the vicinity of the venue hosting the festival’s events, which typically undergoes increased surveillance due to film screenings and the presence of many stars, including Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, Emma Stone, Selena Gomez, Catherine Deneuve, and Demi Moore.
This technology will enable the Municipal Civil Protection Center to “observe any suspicious or dangerous movements or actions” and assist in detecting any abandoned parcels, weapons, or crowd movements, according to the municipality.
David Lisnard, the mayor of Cannes, affirms that these “additional technological surveillance means” can be adopted during the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival thanks to “the law relating to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.” These cameras will be connected to “the largest security network in France,” consisting of 884 cameras, equivalent to “one camera for every 84 residents,” in order to “enhance the effectiveness of the security system,” according to the mayor.
Among other supporting technologies are 462 emergency contact buttons directly connected to the central processing unit. The municipality has deployed these buttons innovatively in public places, schools, nurseries, buildings, public facilities, places of worship, and companies.
With two months remaining until the start of the Paris Olympic Games and the associated security challenge, the city of Cannes can rely on 200 municipal police officers and 66 surveillance service workers. However, city officials express concerns about a possible shortage of national police personnel by the end of April.
- Quick Response Codes –
The Ministry of Interior assures that four units of security forces, each comprising approximately 100 personnel, will be deployed, similar to previous years.
A representative of the Alpes-Maritimes region stated to Agence France-Presse that “the security measures will not be less stringent than in previous years.”
