Surveillance cameras implemented across school premises
In the city of Krasnodar, over 14,100 CCTV cameras have been installed across various institutions, including cultural centres, additional education institutions, sports complexes, and sports halls. The announcement was made by Evgeny Naumov, the city's mayor, on his Telegram channel.
The cameras monitor both the internal and external territories of these buildings, with the majority of them located in the education sector. However, the number of cameras in each facility can vary, with one kindergarten, "Skazka," having up to 297 cameras. The cameras are strategically placed to avoid blind spots, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
Recordings from these cameras are made 24/7 and stored for at least 30 days. The cameras are not limited to educational institutions, but also extend to cultural and sports facilities, with the aim of ensuring the safety of children.
The implementation of these CCTV cameras offers benefits such as enhancing security, monitoring public spaces effectively, and potentially supporting AI systems to detect undesirable conduct. These measures can improve safety for students, staff, and visitors, and help ensure compliance with rules.
However, there are concerns associated with this implementation. Extensive surveillance may infringe on the privacy of students, educators, and visitors, raising ethical questions about data collection and usage. The use of AI and centralized monitoring tools could lead to excessive control or monitoring, limiting personal freedoms or leading to manipulation of information. Continuous surveillance might also alter the cultural and educational environment, making it less open and more controlled, which could hinder free expression. Insufficient transparency about who accesses the data and how it is protected can also raise concerns.
While direct specific details on Krasnodar are limited, analogous practices in Russian regions illustrate both the rationale and risks associated with deploying CCTV in public institutions. The city of Krasnodar has installed CCTV cameras in all educational, cultural, and sports institutions, and cameras have been installed in existing schools and kindergartens, as well as in new educational institutions. The cameras are not specified to have a certain number in these additional locations.
[1] Source: Analogous practices in Russian regions, use of AI in public space monitoring, and governance digitization efforts.
The cameras in education-and-self-development institutions of Krasnodar, including schools and kindergartens, are strategically placed to provide comprehensive coverage and ensure safety. However, the massive surveillance raises ethical questions about data privacy, potential manipulation of information, and impact on the cultural and educational environment due to the lack of transparency and excessive monitoring. [2] The implementation of the CCTV cameras in all educational, cultural, and sports institutions could curb free expression and hinder a more open and less controlled environment.
