Adesso SE to build AI behavioral scanners for Berlin police

• The Berlin police have selected the IT holding company Adesso SE to implement AI-powered video surveillance with behavioral scanning in so-called "crime-prone areas."
• The project is backed by a budget of 4 million euros and authorized under the 2025 Berlin Police Act, which permits the use of commercial surveillance technology trained on citizens' personal data.
• This marks the first time a private sector entity has been contracted to build this infrastructure in Germany; previous projects in Mannheim and Hamburg were led by the non-profit Fraunhofer IOSB.

Implementation and Technology

• Adesso SE acts as the general contractor and is authorized to procure hardware and software from other European-based providers.
• The company leverages expertise from Staige, a video AI firm in which Adesso holds a stake. Staige specializes in monitoring public spaces and transit, with systems capable of detecting movements like kicks or punches and tracking individuals across multiple cameras.
• Adesso utilizes similar AI-driven systems at its own headquarters, which analyze live feeds to generate a continuous operational picture and alert security staff to predefined "abnormalities."

Security Concerns

• Privacy advocates note that the 2025 Berlin Police Act allows for the training of surveillance AI using the personal data of Berlin residents.
• Adesso SE experienced a significant security breach between mid-2022 and early 2023, during which attackers gained long-term access to the company's IT systems and installed manipulated components.