Thuringia's controversial new police law faces hearing amid public support for tech

Thuringia's proposed new police law remains a contentious issue, despite a poll indicating broad public support for equipping law enforcement with advanced technology. The draft legislation, put forth by the governing coalition, includes provisions for artificial intelligence in video analysis, electronic ankle monitors, and the use of tasers.

The bill faces significant opposition, primarily from the Left party and various initiatives, who argue it could lead to a "surveillance state." The Left party has stated they will not participate in what they view as the "re-functionalization" of Thuringia into a surveillance state, citing warnings from experts about potential constitutional issues.

However, a recent poll commissioned by the CDU-led opposition shows that 84% of citizens favor equipping the police with modern tools to facilitate their work, with only 5% opposing the idea. CDU domestic policy spokesperson Jonas Urbach stated, "People do not want a police force that has to fight today's crime with yesterday's tools." A public hearing for experts on the bill is scheduled for Thursday, where the CDU has indicated that critical feedback will be taken into account.