Guangdong installs 200,000 surveillance cameras around How to ensure privacy?

Source: Guangzhou Daily  

    In 2002, Foshan police installed eight "electronic eyes" on Liaoyuan Road to gather evidence in their crackdown on street prostitutes. This novel measure once sparked intense public debate.

　　Six years have passed quickly, and citizens are already accustomed to living in a world where "electronic eyes" are everywhere. The Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department announced that by 2010, Guangdong will have built one million surveillance cameras covering all key locations. Currently, just in Guangzhou alone, 250,000 "heavenly eyes" already cover the entire city.

　　As Guangdong is about to enter an era of one million "electronic eyes," how to better protect citizens' privacy and ensure fair law enforcement have become the two most important issues that relevant departments need to address.

　　200,000 "Heavenly Eyes": Solved 2,433 Cases in Two Years

Surveillance equipment installed at Guangzhou Railway Station effectively curbed crime and illegal activities. Photo by Gu Zhanxu

　　More than 200,000 "electronic eyes" spread across various districts of Guangzhou have effectively curbed crimes and illegal activities, assisted in solving numerous major cases, and provided crucial information for urban management.

　　In January 2006, Guangzhou set the principle of "high-standard planning and high-quality construction" for its "heavenly eye" project, after which it rapidly advanced: comprehensive surveys and overall planning were immediately carried out. In September 2006, Guangzhou first announced its work goal to society —— completing surveillance in key areas and constructing 160,000 interconnected cameras within two years. By then, Guangzhou would have 250,000 "heavenly eyes."

　　Currently, although the social security video surveillance system of Guangzhou is still under construction, its power has already been demonstrated. According to statistics up to April this year, since 2006, Guangzhou has cumulatively utilized the "heavenly eyes" to provide 6,241 clues for police work, solved 2,433 cases, and arrested 3,209 suspects. Relevant data also shows that last year, Guangzhou's "two snatchings" (robbery and snatching) and "two thefts" (pickpocketing and burglary) decreased by 37.3% and 27%, respectively.

　　"Bus Electronic Eye": Always Keeping an Eye on Pickpockets

Police can see everything happening on the road through the surveillance system. Photo by Gu Zhanxu

　　Approximately 26,000 cameras on Guangzhou’s buses and 118 traffic administration video surveillance systems have been installed.

　　These 118 cameras are playing an increasingly significant role. In June this year, three men stole from a female passenger on bus line 556. The driver, noticing the act through the vehicle's video surveillance system, promptly closed the doors, trapping the thieves inside and immediately called the police. The officers who arrived quickly used the in-vehicle recording as evidence to detain the three men.

　　Since the beginning of this year, these cameras have captured over 2,300 violations involving taxis not stopping properly or picking up passengers illegally, and more than 180 violations related to highway passenger buses stopping randomly to pick up or drop off passengers, creating a strong deterrent effect.

　　The 26,000 "bus electronic eyes" form Guangzhou's bus video surveillance system. Through three cameras installed in each bus, they continuously monitor every corner of the cabin. Drivers can understand the dynamics of the entire cabin through a liquid crystal screen inside the vehicle, promptly detect any abnormal situations, and take corresponding measures to ensure passenger safety.

　　According to incomplete statistics, from January to September this year, several major bus companies in the city utilized the bus video system to solve 23 cases of theft on vehicles, handle six traffic accidents and safety services, capture six criminal suspects, and recover losses exceeding ten thousand yuan for passengers. (Jiang Yuefei, Traffic Promotion)

Issue: How to Prevent the Abuse of "Electronic Eyes"

　　While "electronic eyes" help maintain public safety, they also bring about a series of problems. First, where can "electronic eyes" be installed?

　　This is actually a regulatory issue. Journalists learned that currently, there are quite strict regulations and clear articles regarding the construction and management of public security video systems. However, the scope of "electronic eyes" goes beyond this. For instance, while Guangzhou strictly prohibits installing "electronic eyes" in places involving citizen privacy, if some unscrupulous individuals intentionally do so, relevant departments find it difficult to supervise. When journalists asked users and merchants, they also stated that installing cameras in front of their stores does not require approval from the police department.

　　Hundreds of Yuan Can Install an "Electronic Eye"

　　In Guangzhou's major electronics markets and computer malls, it is easy to find stores selling security monitoring equipment. Video probes of various lengths are prominently displayed on counters, and screens record bustling pedestrians and traffic both inside and outside the stores in real-time. For a few hundred yuan, you can install an "electronic eye."

　　A grassroots officer who did not wish to disclose his name told reporters that for private places, currently installing "electronic eyes" does not require prior approval from the police department. But if even installing cameras in one's own home requires approval, it would seem like excessive public authority. Thus, there exists a significant challenge.

　　Additionally, how do "electronic eyes" protect privacy? Monitoring materials must also be supervised.

Monitoring Materials Also Need Supervision

　　Since some current "electronic eyes" are of high quality and can zoom in from a considerable distance, even when installed in public places, they might still be able to peek into private spaces. In the shocking Shenzhen "Dongmen/Wenjin (Ya Garden 2)" video lens peeping incident, temporary employees Xie and Liang from a traffic police detachment used "electronic eyes" to secretly watch the privacy of multiple residents. At the time, many Shenzhen citizens expressed that although the perpetrators of this event had been dismissed, with so many cameras installed across the city, perhaps many other improperly operated probes had yet to be discovered.

　　After the aforementioned incident, relevant officials from Guangzhou's video office stated that currently, only the police department's surveillance personnel have the authority to control the cameras on the roads. Moreover, most road cameras are installed on poles at intersections, and Guangzhou strictly controls the placement of high-point cameras, so citizens need not worry.

　　However, many interviewed citizens expressed that relevant departments must pay attention to the negative effects of "electronic eyes" potentially infringing on personal privacy, and monitoring materials must also be subject to supervision.

　Suggestion: Number the "Electronic Eyes"?

　　One evening in June this year, 19-year-old Zhang Rongsheng died in a car accident near the Shigang Archway on Huangshi West Road, and the hit-and-run driver fled. At the accident scene, our reporter saw three cameras nearby. Regrettably, none of the three cameras recorded the process of the accident.

　　Three "Electronic Eyes" Did Not Capture the Hit-and-Run Vehicle

　　Relatives of the deceased said they had applied to the traffic police to review the road condition recordings, and the result was that only the camera near Xiaoping Bus Stop belonged to the traffic police, and the recording from that camera had already been deleted. Furthermore, it was unclear which unit the two cameras facing the zebra crossing belonged to.

　　Even the traffic police were "unclear about which unit they belonged to," leaving citizens utterly confused. Recently, Ms. Li discovered another camera on a road she frequently traveled through in Nanhai Dali. Why it was added, and which unit had installed it, the citizens had no idea.

　　"If it can be implemented, I suggest that each camera should have a prominent number. Citizens could check the setting unit and purpose via the number, as well as the penalty standards, making things much more transparent. Otherwise, it remains unclear." Said driver Mr. Xiao.

Establish a Unified Management System

　　National Committee member Liu Baiju submitted a proposal this year to strengthen the management of image surveillance systems in public places. Liu Baiju particularly emphasized that while some public place image surveillance systems are directly set up and managed by government departments, a large number are established and managed by enterprises, schools, hotels, restaurants, neighborhoods, etc., and non-governmental units' public place image surveillance systems have a higher possibility of being misused.

　　He believes that while monitoring public places, the disturbance to citizens' private lives should be minimized, and the misuse of image surveillance systems should be effectively prevented, completely eliminating the infringement of citizens' right to privacy. Some image information, although not considered private, from the perspective of maintaining social stability and good customs, should not be disseminated either, such as scenes of mass incidents, violent murders, sex crimes, and mental patients having episodes.

　　He said that China should establish a unified public security image surveillance system management system. In the current stage, the State Council should formulate the "Regulations on the Administration of Public Security Image Information Systems." Each region can, based on the State Council's "Regulations on the Administration of Public Security Image Information Systems," formulate its own implementation methods according to local conditions.

Data Link

　　"Electronic Eyes" Have Caused Controversy Multiple Times

　　1. Private Enterprises Invest in "Electronic Eyes"

　　Last year, Guangdong provincial committee member Jiang Tao once told the media that in order to gain greater economic benefits, in some areas, private bosses fund or internal private fundraising within the traffic police department purchases camera equipment to participate in traffic management departments' fine-sharing illegal behaviors.

　　2. Government Websites Broadcast Citizens' Privacy Live

　　In May this year, a road surface camera beside Ya Garden Overpass in Luohu District, Shenzhen, shamelessly filmed citizens bathing in bedrooms or bathrooms after midnight. These real-time video information were also broadcast live on Shenzhen's open government information websites. After the media exposed this incident, it caused a great uproar locally, and the topic of protecting citizens' personal privacy once again became a focus of public attention.

　 "Heavenly Eyes" Are Not Installed Randomly

　　Places in Guangzhou where "electronic eyes" are prohibited: restrooms, baths, changing rooms, hotel guest rooms, and employee/student dormitories, etc., which involve citizens' privacy.

　　Places in Guangzhou where "electronic eyes" should be installed: important parts of airports, ports, train stations, docks, parking lots, passenger and freight stations, and hub bus stations; important traffic facilities such as highways, urban expressways, main urban roads, all major intersections in central areas, all entrances and exits of cities, the main channel of the Pearl River within jurisdiction, pedestrian overpasses, large bridges, tunnels, etc.; important parts of subway station entrances and exits, platform passages, passenger trains, underground shopping malls, etc. should all install "electronic eyes".

　　Additionally, important parts of public transportation vehicles such as buses, trolleybuses, passenger ships, etc., important parts of public activity and gathering places such as parks, conference centers, sports venues, hospitals, schools, residential areas, commercial streets, large farmers' markets, etc., and entrances and exits, elevators, and other main channels of hotels (inns), catering, entertainment venues, office buildings, etc., should also install "electronic eyes". (Reported by Chen Xiang, except for named contributions)