Voice and face recognition: What cameras do public institutions buy?

The Information and Private Agency (AIP) says that using these technologies, in principle, is prohibited and should be exception, not rule.

Experts warn that their use could affect privacy, especially when cameras are placed in hospitals, schools, shelters and public spaces.

It all started with a discussion within staff at Ferizaj General Hospital.

In the first months of 2026, this hospital had switched security cameras for some younger ones.

“There have been words that camera has been put in voice”, says about Radio Free Europe Saddam Haxhiu, a Radiology technician in this hospital, broadcasts Periscope.

Haxhiu, who is also the leader of the Federation of Health Workers for the Ferizaj region, says that upon hearing those words, he decided to react.

“E has notified the Federation at the central level. They have interviewed the Agency for Protection of Data (Information and Private Agency)”, he says.

A complaint on the issue had reached the Agency for Information and Privates (AIP) since 9 March.

The agency then launched the inspection and found that the complaint was based.

On April 27, AIP ordered the hospital to stop monitoring this type.

Haxhi confirmed for REL that the order worked and that the cameras recording the voice were removed.

Why were these cameras set up?

Until the publication of this article, the hospital leadership did not answer Radio Free Europe's questions about the reasons for setting sound recording cameras.

Haxhiu himself says he does not believe he had any bad intentions of management.

I don't think anybody heard them. And the directorate... I don't think he knew there was a sound on those” cameras, he says.

But according to public procurement data, the ability to record voice was the specific criterion required in the tender file, which was released in November 2025.

In this file where the purchase of 32 cameras was required, it was specified that there should be “1 ch Audio In/Out” - a channel that offers voice communication on both sides.

Ferizaj's hospital answered neither the questions for the reasons for this specificity nor how the cameras were replaced after they were removed with voice recordings.

Is audio recording allowed by security cameras?

According to the Information and Private Agency, very rarely.

“Since facial recognition technologies and audio-incision represent particularly invasive forms of personal data processing, their use should be considered exception and not rule”, this agency for Radio Free Europe said.

The agency also estimated that this type of data processing represents a deep intervention in the privacy of” and that “should not be considered a common part of camera surveillance systems”.

Advanced cameras in hospitals, schools and roads?

Ferizaj's hospital is not the only institution that, at least in the requirements for camera purchase, has requested technical specifications for voice recording.

Radio Free Europe analyzed the tender files open in recent years for the purchase of camera systems and, in at least 10 of them, technical specifications envisioned the function of audio.

Furthermore, in some of them, the “face recognition” and the ability for “intelligent analysis” was requested.

One of these tenders was awarded by the Crenasis Community in October 2025 for cameras that have already been installed on several streets of this municipality.

In response to Radio Free Europe, this municipality said that although installed cameras have technical access to audio and video recordings, it is currently activated only the possibility of video recording.

She also explained that some of the cameras have the skills of knowing vehicle license plates, “aimed at identifying suspicious vehicles or vehicles that carry out violations of communications regulations on the streets of downtown”.

The municipality did not explain exactly what the specifics required in the tender file meant, including those for “profound learning about the classification of people and vehicles”, as well as the maximum “recognition of 50 faces in public space”.

A Search for Cameras in Schools and Hotels

About 50km from Drenas, the South Mitrovica municipality also prepared a new tender.

In this tender, which opened on June 18th and is still in the initial phase, cameras are required to be bought for several educational institutions, including schools and nurserys.

In specifications of this tender, inter alia, the camera system is required to have “inputs and audio output for [two-way] communication”.

In addition, according to the municipality, this system should support up to 300 facial databases (or their equivalent) and as many as 100,000 facial recognition images.

Until the publication of this article, the municipality did not answer Radio Free Europe's questions about why it was seeking to buy cameras with these specifics.

Why can intelligent cameras be dangerous?

Cyber security expert Korab Kekkolla estimates that involvement of functions such as facial recognition and audio recording in cameras procurement of public institutions requires clear legal basis and transparency.

There's a huge difference between a camera documenting a security event and a system identifying real-time people... The first is classical monitoring, the second is massive biometric oversight”, he tells Radio Free Europe.

According to him, facial recognition can only be used in limited cases, such as control of access to sensitive areas, and only by respecting the requirements of the Law for the Protection of Personal Data.

When these systems enter a school or hospital without this process... We go from physical security to general oversight of citizens”, says Keckolla.

He warns that even recording voice in hospitals can affect patients ' privacy.

In addition, it raises concerns about the cyber security of these systems.

“IP cameras are network-bound computers, not passive”, he says.

According to Kekkolla, public institutions should understand that a camera system is not simply the procurement of equipment, but the long-term <x0).

If we don't have the capacity for this responsibility, then neither should the systems have these functions. Starting with minimal function and gradual growth, where there is real need and clear legal framework, is a much healthier approach than buying anything... Because it's available in catalogus”, he adds.

Radio Free Europe identified several similar tenders in several other institutions, including the Centre for Mental Health in Pec, the Stomatological Clinical Centre in Pristina, the Vushtrri municipality, the one of Junik, Gjilan and Rahoveci.

In these camera purchase tenders - some already contracted, and some in the process - were asked for specificity in voice recording or even intelligent analysis and facial recognition.

Most of these institutions, to the publication of this article, did not respond to Radio Free Europe's request for comment.

The Vushtrri municipality said the tender, which is in the initial phase, has the specifications since the supply will be made for the Police Station in Vushtrri.

However, the supply for health centres and school objects is also envisioned in the tender file. Even these objects require intelligent functions, including facial detection and comparison.

Asked why these functions are also envisioned for schools and health institutions, the municipality said the goal is to strengthen security in public objects where a large number of citizens circulate and where medical equipment, documentation and valuable inventory are stored.

“kkMF/ QMF and schools have in the past been the object of unauthorized theft, injuries and inflows outside work hours”, it says in response.

According to the municipality, the facial detection function also helps reduce false alarms, since it distinguishes human interference from other movements.

The municipality added that the system is not destined for student supervision or treatment patients.

“Cameras are placed in the logins and exits, corridors and external perimeters of objects, and not in the class or testing room”, according to the Vushtrri municipality.

The Rahovec municipality, which on 17 June 2026 opened a tender for supply of cameras for public objects, demanded that some have integrated microphones, but did not clarify the reason for that demand.

In response, she told the REL that “procedure has not yet been completed” and “has not been contracted to economic operator”.