New Zealand / Technology

Police not looking to alter their ban on use of generative AI

12:44 pm on 12 May 2024

A police statement said they had no work underway to change their "acceptable use of information and ICT" policy that includes an AI ban. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller

Police say they are not looking at altering the ban on the use of generative AI on their devices.

They have contracts with US firm Axon, and Axon has begun offering US police departments AI software that writes up reports for officers on patrol, called Draft One.

"We are not aware of any formal approaches made by Axon regarding Draft One," police told RNZ in a statement.

They had no work underway to change their "acceptable use of information and ICT" policy that includes the AI ban.

"Any changes would first require rigorous assurances about the effectiveness, security, fairness and accountability of the product in question," a spokesperson said in a statement.

"While we cannot speak to decisions that may occur in the future, this is not a focus of our current work."

New Zealand Police currently use Axon tasers, and store taser and some interview footage with the firm's evidence.com system in Australia.

The new tasers being rolled out do not have built-in cameras; many police forces account for this by pairing tasers with Axon body-worn cameras (bodycams), but New Zealand Police are still debating this.