Hong Kong’s plan to install thousands of surveillance cameras across the city has raised alarms over its growing resemblance to mainland China’s repressive monitoring systems. While officials claim the cameras are necessary for crime prevention, critics warn that the use of facial recognition and AI could be a step toward political repression.
The new surveillance push comes as Hong Kong remains politically tense following the 2019 pro-democracy protests and the imposition of strict national security laws. Though authorities promise compliance with privacy laws, experts argue that the broad exemptions for police could allow for political misuse of the technology, bringing Hong Kong closer to China’s authoritarian model.
