The criminal element in South Korea cannot outrun the long arm of the… holographic law? That's the case in one Seoul park, as a holographic police officer appears every night to warn potential troublemakers.
It may seem dystopian on the surface, but let's look at the results.
VICE has more details on the holo-cop:
Since the ghost-cop's installation in October as part of a 'Safe Park' initiative, reported crimes in the area have dropped by roughly 22 percent, police told E-Daily. That stat compares data from the same hours before and after the hologram went live. While it obviously can't arrest anyone, police say the digital presence alone is enough to deter bad decisions.
'Although it was clear upon closer inspection that the person wasn't a real person, the mere perception of police presence had a significant deterrent effect,' police said in a statement.
The 5'6" holographic officer (life-sized for a Korean) lets nearby people know that the park is under CCTV surveillance and that real-life police are poised to respond quickly to any misbehavior.
Still, the psychological effect seems to be working, at least on paper. Jungbu Police Station Chief Ahn Dong-hyun told reporters the hologram is 'establishing itself as a smart security device' and said plans are in place to expand these kinds of AI-backed deterrents to other areas.
Holograms, robo-police dogs, and AI-based law enforcement technology...
Nothing to worry about here.
Nothing at all.
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