Big Brother is Watching: Hong Kong’s Surveillance Expansion
As you wander through the streets of downtown Hong Kong, you can’t miss the watchful eyes of surveillance cameras looming above. The city’s police force is on a mission to ramp up its surveillance capabilities by installing thousands of new cameras, equipped with cutting-edge facial recognition and AI tools to combat crime.
Despite Hong Kong being one of the safest cities globally, the introduction of these cameras has stirred concerns among experts. The fear of morphing into a surveillance state akin to mainland China looms large, raising questions about privacy and individual freedoms. Critics worry about the potential misuse of this technology for political repression, especially following the crackdown on dissent post-2019 protests.
While the police emphasize the crime-fighting benefits of these measures, doubts linger about the legality and impact on personal rights. With the looming threat of invasive surveillance, Hong Kongers may find themselves living under constant scrutiny, altering their behavior and sense of freedom.