Indian media: Hong Kong will deploy 60,000 AI facial recognition-enabled surveillance cameras

Indian media recently reported that the Hong Kong Secretary for Security said on Friday that Hong Kong plans to install tens of thousands of surveillance cameras with AI facial recognition capabilities, making the city's surveillance system increasingly similar to that of mainland China (which often uses cutting-edge technology to monitor public spaces).

According to documents submitted to the Legislative Council, under this police crime prevention plan, the Chinese financial hub has already installed nearly 4,000 closed-circuit television cameras, and this number will increase more than tenfold by 2028, reaching a total of 60,000 units.

Hong Kong Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung told legislators that artificial intelligence technology has been used to monitor crowds and recognize license plates, and this technology "naturally applies to the human body, such as tracking suspects." He said "these are measures we must take," and added that the government is still considering issues related to resource allocation and technology selection, but did not provide a specific implementation timetable.

The police stated that the "Smart Surveillance" program is crucial for maintaining national security, preventing and investigating crimes, and noted that since its launch last year, the relevant cameras have helped solve over 400 cases and arrest 787 people. According to a July report by the South China Morning Post, the police "will start using real-time facial recognition systems by the end of this year at the earliest."

Although the UK has adopted similar technology, critics point out that it grants the government unchecked mass invasion of privacy. Issues such as matching errors that may lead to wrongful arrests have also raised concerns. The EU's AI Act passed last year explicitly prohibits law enforcement agencies from using 'real-time' remote biometric systems in public spaces, allowing only a few exceptions.

The Hong Kong Independent Statutory Authority for Privacy Commissioner refused to disclose whether its opinion was sought when formulating the expansion plan for surveillance cameras.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1845191624595588/

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