Public surveillance isn’t new, but CCTV cameras have become more common in recent decades, and systems have expanded massively in several countries. Over the past decade, AI and facial recognition technology have also been implemented in some of these 18 cities notorious for their public surveillance.
London, United Kingdom
London is known for having one of the world’s highest numbers of CCTV cameras per square mile. Londonist notes that estimates for the number of CCTV cameras in the capital city “range between 627,700 and 942,500—although many of these are private cameras.”
Singapore
Singapore is well known for its public surveillance, which has ramped up since the pandemic. In May 2023, there were over 109,000 CCTV cameras in the Southeast Asian city-state, amounting to just under 18 cameras per 1,000 people.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The UAE authorities have a zero-tolerance policy toward criticizing the government and can directly monitor emails and mobile devices in the country. Dubai has one of the world’s highest concentrations of surveillance cameras and a well-developed facial recognition system.
Chicago, USA
Chicago is one of America’s most surveilled cities, with around 48,283 CCTV cameras for over 2,608,400 people, which amounts to around 18.5 cameras per 1,000 people. The Office of Emergency Management and Communications command center can access this mixture of Chicago Police Department, private business, and residence cameras.
Beijing, China
China is notorious for its extreme use of surveillance cameras and facial recognition technology, and Beijing is no exception. According to Surfshark, it had 1.15 million CCTV cameras in 2021, making it one of the most surveilled cities in the world.
Seoul, South Korea
Seoul is one of the world’s most surveilled cities and recently announced plans to install 10,657 AI-equipped cameras in parks and hiking trails with high crime rates. City officials also revealed that newer AI models would replace thousands of older cameras.
Paris, France
France’s capital city has an extensive CCTV system and is ramping up its surveillance ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games. Last year, it passed legislation allowing the use of AI video surveillance during the games, without facial recognition, to prevent terrorist attacks.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s surveillance has ramped up since the 2020 national security law, with thousands of CCTV cameras added. The city’s police recently announced that 2,000 additional cameras are being installed amid fears they will use facial recognition to further crack down on dissent.
New York City, USA
New York’s surveillance massively ramped up after 9/11, when the NYPD developed a wide array of surveillance technologies. Today, the system is an interconnected web of physical sensors, facial recognition, CCTV cameras, and license plate readers. Amnesty International notes that the “NYPD used facial recognition technology in 22,000 cases between 2016 and 2019.”
Johannesburg, South Africa
Johannesburg is known for its high crime rates, and some residents believe additional CCTV cameras could help reduce them. Private CCTV cameras are popular with businesses and private residences and have famously captured attempts to hijack vehicles carrying cash.
Toronto, Canada
There are around 20,000 CCTV cameras around the Greater Toronto Area, many of which are monitored at the Transit Control Centre. Expansions of the cameras operated by the police department have been met with harsh criticism from privacy advocates who fear that facial recognition surveillance will be used.
Sydney, Australia
Sydney has an extensive CCTV system across the city, in public areas, and on public transportation. In 2019, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that it was the “15th-most surveilled metropolitan city in the world,” with “12.35 cameras for every 1,000 people.”
Mumbai, India
In Mumbai, CCTV cameras are used to manage large crowds during public events like political rallies and festivals. Last year, it was announced that 5,837 cameras were installed across the city for security and crime prevention.
Los Angeles, USA
In 2023, the LAPD announced plans to develop a new surveillance center that would give it centralized access to live security feeds from public and private cameras. The plan, dubbed LAPD Live, could see the department access 10,000 cameras throughout the City of Angels.
Moscow, Russia
RadioFreeEurope reported last year that Moscow would “more than double its spending on video-surveillance equipment” in 2024 to $22.2 million. They also note that official data showed that over half a million cameras were connected to facial-recognition systems throughout wider Russia and that Moscow had the most at 216.
Berlin, Germany
Germany has strict privacy laws but has expanded its CCTV system over the past decade following the 2016 truck attack. In general, CCTV and surveillance are unpopular with Germans, who view them as an invasion of privacy.
Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico’s capital city has the largest video surveillance system in the country, surveilled in a huge command and control center. It has installed over 64,000 cameras since 2009 to crack down on crime, but the cameras have been linked to a series of technical errors that have resulted in the arrest of innocent civilians.
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo has an extensive system of surveillance cameras in subways and train stations, but it isn’t among the top ten most surveilled cities despite its size. It has just over one camera per 1,000 people, far less than in London, New York, or Paris.
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