'I don't trust the government': Missouri Lt. Governor raises alarm over AI surveillance plan

Missouri Lt. Gov. David Wasinger is urging Missourians to remain vigilant against elder abuse while also expressing skepticism about the use of facial recognition technology in public spaces.

During an interview on Newstalk KZRG, Wasinger said June's Elder Abuse Awareness Month serves as an important reminder of the challenges facing Missouri's senior population.

Under Missouri law, the lieutenant governor serves as the state's official advocate for seniors.

"Elder abuse runs the gamut from financial exploitation, neglect, physical abuse and emotional abuse," Wasinger said. "Oftentimes this happens behind closed doors and goes unreported."

Wasinger said his office works closely with agencies including the Missouri Department of Social Services, law enforcement and the Missouri Attorney General's Office to address reports of elder abuse and exploitation.

He said the cases his office encounters vary widely, from family members allegedly taking advantage of elderly relatives financially to concerns about neglect in long-term care facilities.

"It really is an issue that affects every family," Wasinger said. "Unfortunately, no one has ever defeated Mother Nature or Father Time, so it's going to affect us personally as well."

The lieutenant governor said lawmakers are expected to revisit legislation aimed at strengthening protections for seniors during the next legislative session. He specifically referenced efforts by state Sen. Adam Schnelting that advanced during the most recent session but ultimately did not become law.

Wasinger also discussed Missouri's tourism industry as Kansas City hosts matches connected to FIFA international soccer competition this month.

While official economic impact figures are not yet available, Wasinger said he has observed increased tourism activity across the state, particularly along Route 66 and in the Kansas City area.

The lieutenant governor recently attended a match in Kansas City and said he encountered visitors from Argentina who traveled to Missouri for the event.

"The energy in Kansas City was really electric," Wasinger said. "There were a lot of tourists and visitors over in the Kansas City area."

Wasinger said some tourism-related data could become available in the coming weeks, while longer-term economic benefits from international visitors may take years to fully materialize.

The lieutenant governor also weighed in on reports that Kansas City officials are considering installing artificial intelligence-powered facial recognition cameras on city buses.

Wasinger said he had not reviewed the proposal in detail but expressed concerns about government collection and storage of personal data.

"I just don't have a large level of trust with me personally or with Missourians giving their data and facial recognition over to the state or federal government," Wasinger said.

He acknowledged there may be public safety considerations behind the proposal but said any evaluation should include careful scrutiny of how collected data would be used and protected.

"The devil is in the details," Wasinger added.