AI technology will scan for abuse in children’s homes

Surveillance cameras equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) technology will be used to look for any signs of abuse at one of the city’s children’s residences, the government said on Friday.

If the AI ​​detects inappropriate behavior, such as slapping or shaking children, it should automatically raise the alarm.

Social Welfare Minister Chris Sun said the money for the technology was made available to the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children (HKSPC) after the Children’s Home in Prince Edward was embroiled in an abuse scandal involving multiple staff in 2021.

“To help the Society for the Protection of Children improve the quality of care provided to children and increase the efficiency of monitoring child care services, the government allocated money from the Lottery Fund, allowing the society to use artificial intelligence technology in surveillance cameras. Inappropriate actions can be detected at an early stage,” Sun said , at a seminar on child protection.

The minister added that artificial intelligence-equipped cameras should be available starting from June next year.

HKSPC said it began monitoring CCTV footage on a weekly basis two years ago.

“First, there are two levels of monitoring by Children’s Housing staff. They will randomly select two hours of CCTV footage and review it to see if there is any inappropriate behavior or suspicious behavior,” said director Subrina Chow.

“There will then be a second review by a child protection consultant. They will review what has already been reviewed by first level staff and randomly select two hours of footage to see if there are any situations that require attention.”