Seoul bridge suicide detection, prevention

Reuters reports that the Seoul Metropolitan Government is using AI to detect and prevent suicide attempts on the Han River. 

Privacy experts worry that the project may encroach on personal privacy, especially if there is no public signage. There are also fears that the system could be used for other surveillance-related purposes in the future.

Korea has more suicides than any other OECD country, a rate that has accelerated with COVID-19. Almost 500 suicide attempts are reported on the Han River every year.

Seoul authorities have been operating a 24-hour CCTV-based suicide surveillance and response system since 2012 on bridges over the Han River.