Chapter One: What Happened After the Cameras Left
A Night in Faro – 11 July 2020
The question may appear simple, yet it touches one of the greatest dilemmas
of our century.
Humanity has entered an era characterised not
only by technological progress but also by profound moral, political and social
uncertainty.
The Covid-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of
institutions that many believed to be solid and reliable. Governments
struggled, health systems were overwhelmed, and entire populations found
themselves living under restrictions that would have seemed unimaginable only
months before.
At the same time, the war in Ukraine
demonstrated that large-scale armed conflict had not disappeared from Europe.
Cities were destroyed, millions were displaced, and the world once again
witnessed the devastating consequences of geopolitical confrontation.
In the Middle East, the attacks carried out by
Hamas and the subsequent military response by Israel generated immense human
suffering, reigniting historical wounds that continue to divide international
opinion and challenge diplomatic solutions.
Across Africa, numerous conflicts continue to
devastate communities. Civil wars, terrorism, ethnic tensions, political instability
and humanitarian crises have become part of the daily reality of millions of
people whose suffering rarely receives sustained international attention.
Meanwhile, confidence in public institutions
continues to erode.
In Portugal, debates surrounding allegations
of police violence, including the events that occurred in Faro in July 2020,
have raised broader questions concerning police accountability, transparency
and public trust.
Beyond Portugal, many countries continue to
face accusations regarding excessive use of force, failures in protecting
vulnerable individuals, violence against women, abuse of minors and
shortcomings in judicial systems that are often perceived as slow, overwhelmed
or disconnected from the realities faced by ordinary citizens.
In France, public debate surrounding the
justice system intensified during the tenure of Justice Minister Éric
Dupond-Moretti. His legal proceedings, although ending in acquittal, fuelled
wider discussions regarding institutional independence, political influence and
public confidence in the judiciary.
The Patrick Bruel affair also became
emblematic of broader societal concerns. Regardless of the final legal outcome,
the case highlighted difficult questions concerning allegations of sexual
violence, delayed reporting, celebrity influence and the challenges faced by
judicial systems when dealing with accusations spanning several decades.
These events do not exist in isolation.
Together they form part of a wider atmosphere
of uncertainty, doubt and growing social tension.
Many citizens no longer trust political
leaders.
Many no longer trust the media.
Many no longer trust the justice system.
Many no longer trust the police.
And increasingly, many no longer trust each
other.
This climate of distrust has created fertile
ground for conspiracy theories, ideological radicalisation and social
hostility.
The result is a society that often appears
exhausted, angry and divided.
A society connected by technology yet
separated by suspicion.
A society flooded with information yet
struggling to distinguish truth from manipulation.
A society capable of extraordinary scientific
achievements yet unable to eradicate war, violence, injustice and hatred.
History teaches that periods of uncertainty
often precede profound transformations.
The twentieth century witnessed dictatorships,
propaganda, persecution, world wars and unprecedented human suffering.
Today, the warning signs are different, but
the underlying questions remain remarkably similar.
How much power should institutions possess?
How much freedom should citizens sacrifice in
the name of security?
How can justice remain independent from
politics?
How can truth survive in an age dominated by
algorithms, information overload and artificial intelligence?
And perhaps most importantly:
Can a civilisation survive when doubt becomes
stronger than trust?
The answer to that question may well determine
the future of humanity itself.
It also
coincided with the rapid rise of artificial intelligence technologies, which
have increasingly influenced political communication, information flow, and
public perception, sometimes amplifying disagreement, confusion, and
institutional mistrust.
In France,
discussions around judicial reform and institutional balance were also highly
visible during this period. The role of Minister of Justice Éric Dupond-Moretti
became particularly symbolic, as he himself was subject to legal proceedings
related to allegations of conflicts of interest involving magistrates. Although
he was ultimately acquitted, the case contributed to wider public debate about
the relationship between political power and the judiciary, and the level of
trust between institutions and citizens.
Taken
together, these developments reflect a broader shift: a period in which health
crisis, political tension, technological acceleration, and institutional
controversy converged, reshaping public perception of authority, justice, and
social stability.
The return of beliefs and interpretations shaped by ideology is not a recent
phenomenon. Its origins are deeply rooted in human history itself.
The reasons for this, in my view, go far beyond
religion alone. They are linked to the broader nature of human ambition and the
recurring desire for control over societies, resources, and ultimately the
Earth itself.
Throughout centuries, different systems of
belief — religious, political, or ideological — have often been used as
instruments of influence, justification, or power.
Whether this dynamic is an unavoidable part of
human nature or a long-standing historical pattern is still open to
interpretation. Some may see it as a form of fiction repeated across centuries;
others may see it as a constant structure of human civilisation.
Si les êtres humains ont été capables de créer des guerres, des dictatures,
des propagandes et des injustices, seront-ils capables d'utiliser une
intelligence artificielle avec suffisamment de sagesse pour qu'elle serve
l'humanité plutôt que le pouvoir ?
SAISI
