POLICE UNIONS AS INFORMAL OVERSIGHT MECHANISMS IN THE ERA OF AI AND DIGITAL POLICING

The accelerated integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies into policing is transforming security governance and raising new challenges related to accountability, transparency, and fundamental rights. While existing debates predominantly focus on the impact of AI on citizens, limited attention has been given to police officers as workers operating within increasingly algorithmically managed environments. This paper introduces the concept of the labour rights dimension of AI in policing, referring to the effects of digital systems on working conditions, professional autonomy, data protection, and accountability of police personnel. The paper adopts a conceptual and policy-oriented approach, drawing on emerging practices within European policing environments and cooperation with international organisations, to examine the evolving role of police unions in this context. The analysis demonstrates that police officers are not only users of AI technologies but also subjects of algorithmic governance, exposed to risks such as opaque performance evaluation, intensified workplace surveillance, and unclear liability frameworks. It further shows that police unions can function as informal oversight mechanisms by raising awareness, providing training, and advocating for ethical and rights-based use of AI. The paper concludes that effective governance of AI in policing requires a dual accountability framework that safeguards both citizens’ rights and the labour rights of police officers, contributing to more resilient, transparent, and human-centred security systems. Keywords: AI in policing, Police Unions, Informal Oversight Mechanisms, Labour