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China’s Watchful Eye: AI Surveillance in Uganda
- State-driven surveillance programs, supported by powerful tech exporters like China, are rapidly evolving worldwide, with Uganda as a case study for AI surveillance in the name of national security.
- Uganda's AI surveillance system, aided by Huawei, features thousands of CCTV cameras with facial recognition, raising concerns about privacy, technology abuse, and state surveillance implications.
- The Safe City Surveillance Project in Uganda, managed by Huawei, began in response to violent crimes in 2017, highlighting the expanding use of CCTV technology in major towns and highways.
- Huawei's unique ownership structure, tied to a trade union committee, raises questions about control and government influence, despite the company's claims of independence.
- Uganda's government justifies AI surveillance as a means to combat violent crime but faces criticism for potential misuse of technology, especially during sensitive political periods.
- Privacy concerns and lack of legal oversight surround Uganda's AI surveillance program, with fears of political surveillance and data misuse impacting citizens' rights and freedoms.
- Other African countries like Kenya and Zimbabwe have also embraced AI-powered surveillance systems, reflecting a broader global trend of balancing security needs with privacy rights in the digital age.
- The expansion of AI surveillance poses challenges in protecting civil liberties, potentially leading to self-censorship, erosion of trust, and stifling of democratic discourse without proper safeguards and transparency.
- As AI surveillance proliferates globally, the series will delve deeper into how governments utilize AI for control, the risks to civil liberties, and the impact on privacy and governance in an increasingly surveilled world.
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