Hong Kong To Deploy AI Facial Recognition Cameras
A New Era of Surveillance in Hong Kong
Hong Kong is poised for a dramatic expansion of its public surveillance network, bringing it closer to the high-tech monitoring systems common in mainland China. The city's security chief, Chris Tang, announced on Friday that tens of thousands of surveillance cameras will be installed across the city, equipped with advanced AI-powered facial recognition.
The ambitious plan will see the current network of nearly 4,000 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras increase to a total of 60,000 by 2028. This move is part of the "SmartView" program, which authorities champion as a critical tool for public safety.
The Government's Case for AI Monitoring
According to officials, the primary goal of the expanded network is to safeguard national security and to more effectively prevent and detect crimes. Hong Kong's security chief Chris Tang explained to lawmakers that artificial intelligence is already being utilized to monitor crowds and analyze vehicle licence plates.
He emphasized that applying this technology to identify and track individuals, such as criminal suspects, is a logical and necessary progression. "That is something we must do," Tang stated, although a precise timeline for the rollout of facial recognition features remains under consideration. Police have credited the existing CCTV initiative with helping solve over 400 cases and resulting in 787 arrests since it began last year. Some reports suggest that real-time facial recognition could be operational as early as the end of this year.
Growing Concerns Over Privacy and Power
The plan has been met with significant concern from civil liberties advocates and legal experts, who warn about the potential for unchecked government power and mass invasion of privacy. Critics point to the risk of false matches from the technology, which could lead to wrongful arrests and accusations.
Eric Lai, a Senior Fellow at the Georgetown Center for Asian Law, expressed doubt about the city's current regulatory capacity. He noted that Hong Kong's police are not subject to effective independent oversight and that the city lacks clear rules on AI use by law enforcement. "It is therefore questionable whether the existing legal and regulatory framework is sufficient to prevent police abuse of power," Lai remarked. He also raised concerns about whether human rights due diligence is being applied to the procurement of such powerful technology. The city's independent privacy watchdog declined to comment on its involvement in the planning process.
A Global Debate on Facial Recognition
The deployment of AI surveillance is a contentious issue globally. While countries like Britain have also adopted similar technology, it has faced strong criticism. In contrast, the European Union passed an Artificial Intelligence Act last year that explicitly banned the use of real-time remote biometric identification in public spaces for law enforcement, with only limited exceptions. Hong Kong's decision places it firmly on one side of a global debate about the balance between security and personal freedom in the digital age.
