@Antanicus Traditionally, new technologies are tested by the military apparatus and then extended to the civil domain. With surveillance technologies though, things are more confused. "AI" has been massively improved by private corporations and only later incorporated into the police/military toolbox. For what I know, facial recognition has gone this way: 0. Requested by the military 1. private companies (GAFAM) 2. political police during demos 3. at least in France it is most likely used by common police.
With the disappearance of traditional wars, where the enemy was evil and far away, the test animals are becoming the consumers.
(https://paris-luttes.info/les-flics-equipes-d-une-appli-de-14869)