An internal police memo obtained via freedom of information laws confirms plans to nationally deploy the AI system called Nectar. The technology, developed with Silicon Valley-based Palantir Technologies, is currently piloted by Bedfordshire Police and has already cost the force £1.4 million ($1.9 million) over the past two years.
The 34-page internal briefing outlines how Nectar merges around 80 different police data sources, from traffic cameras to intelligence reports, into one unified platform designed to generate real-time, detailed profiles on suspects, victims, witnesses and vulnerable individuals, including children.
The document states the goal is to "eventually apply [Nectar] nationally" to "better protect vulnerable people by preventing, detecting and investigating crime." Nectar accesses 11 categories of "special category information" under U.K. data protection laws, reserved for particularly sensitive data. This includes race, political views, religious beliefs, health records, sexual orientation, sex life, union membership and biometric or genetic data. Some of this data may come from informants, financial records, dating profiles or social media posts and is often gathered under warrant...<<<Read More>>>...
