KMDLNj: Set up cameras in Pristina, in complete opposition to human rights

Council for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms ( KMDLNj, through a communique for the media, has said that placing cameras in Pristina is in full opposition to human rights.

The committee says that the location of security cameras, particularly those with artificial intelligence, is forbidden in many countries, as it says, because of the misuse of biometric data that process these cameras.

“Description and explanation argue setting up cameras as if they did not flagrantly violate the right to privacy, as human basic right. The KMDLNj reminds the public that this very organisation has proposed placing cameras in the perimeter of waste containers to identify irresponsible citizens who throw waste out of containers”.

“The location of security cameras, especially these artificial intelligence, is prohibited in many countries because of the possibility of misuse of biometric data that process these cameras. Then, according to legislation in effect, surveillance through cameras even for the most serious criminal cases cannot be done without the permission of law enforcement and that it is treated as a case rather than a whole. In the case of the location of cameras in the capital, it is thought that surveillance will be permanent, 24 hours and that all citizens within the perimeter covered by cameras, whether they are suspects or not, said the communique.

KMDLNj has said it strongly opposes the deployment of cameras with powerful artificial intelligence because, as stated in the communiqué, it is not envisioned with legislation in power and brutally creates conditions for privacy violations.

Surveillance cameras, according to the KMDLN, can only be placed in areas where there is suspicion of criminal acts and law enforcement agencies or areas where expectations for privacy violations are small.

“According to the laws in force, the car is counted as a second home, and special permission of the law enforcement bodies is required for monitoring it, while cameras monitor without any permission by seriously violating legally protected privacy. That this survey will be realised only by the Kosovo Police does not provide any security for maintaining human rights privacy and respect for the fact that no raids or arrests of persons considered public persons, regardless of the time and conditions are made without the presence of media meaning that information stems from police”.

Unauthorized observation affects the outcome of investigations, judicial decision making, and indisputably violates the principle of presumption of innocence. This survey, which has no effective monitoring, creates conditions for serious privacy and human rights violations through family control, both in public and private places. Also, AIP, regardless of the time it operates (now or in the future) cannot provide any security for maintaining privacy for the fact that it is primarily appointed by politics and is under political influence”, it is said further in the KMDLNj communiqué.