CANNES, France, May 12, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - State-of-the-art security using
artificial intelligence is being deployed at the Cannes Film Festival in a
test for potential applications at the Paris Olympics two months later.

Some 40,000 attendees -- and some of the world's biggest movie stars -- fly
into the Cote d'Azur for the festival from Tuesday to May 25.

Local authorities say they are using 17 experimental cameras equipped with AI
technology that are supposed to "identify events or behaviours deemed
suspicious" and help detect abandoned packages, weapons and people in
distress.

The Cannes town hall has been asking to implement them since 2019 but has
only been given permission thanks to changes in surveillance laws introduced
for the Olympics that kick off in Paris in July, according to mayor David
Lisnard.

He said the town already had the "densest video protection network in
France", with 884 cameras, one for every 84 residents.

Cannes also has 462 emergency call buttons spread across public spaces and
buildings.

There were concerns that mobilisation for the Olympics would deprive the
festival of police resources.

But Paris authorities say they are sending some 400 security forces in
addition to the 200 officers and 66 surveillance agents already in Cannes.

The festival has a further 400 security guards around the main venue, the
Palais des Festivals -- not to mention the many private security agents
employed at all the beach, villa and yacht parties.