Nationwide network of biometric ready cameras in South Africa
Information Certainty: Speculative
Deployment Purpose: Surveillance
| Summary |
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| 0 |
Products and Institutions:
| Product Deployed | Milestone XProtect VMS Unknown Products 0043 |
|---|---|
| Institutions ⠉ | Milestone |
| Datasets | Unknown Dataset 0085 |
| Search software |
Status and Events:
| Status | Planned |
|---|---|
| Events | Start (2 January 2019, Speculative, , No description) |
| Start Date | |
| End Date |
Users:
| Involved Entities | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Managed by | Vumacam |
| Used by | Vumacam Unknown Institution 0063 |
Location:
| City | Johannesburg Pretoria Krugersdorp Soweto Kempton Park |
|---|---|
| Country ⠉ | South Africa South Africa South Africa South Africa South Africa |
Description[ ]
Vumacam deployes a nation wide network of hightech CCTV cameras, which are the same brand as the ones used in Xinjiang’s surveillance network. So far there are over 6.600 cameras connected to the Network. Vumacam denies using Facial Recognition software but is open to do so when the systems are more refined. The cameras are mainly deployed in Johannesburg but all over the country in affluential neighbourhoods they can be found. Vumacam uses Video Analytic software by Milestone.
The effect has been the rapid creation of a centralized, coordinated, entirely privatized mass surveillance operation. Vumacam, the company building the nationwide CCTV network, already has over 6,600 cameras and counting, more than 5,000 of which are concentrated in Joburg. The video footage it takes feeds into security rooms around the country, which then use all manner of AI tools like license plate recognition to track population movement and trace individuals. 2
The company sells access to its cameras and analytics. Buyers include businesses, homeowner associations, private security forces and the police themselves. 1
CENTRALISED TECHNOLOGY Security professionals monitor footage, integrate analytics and use ANPR from industry leading software Milestone. 3
The technology used in Xinjiang’s surveillance network has made its way to the streets of Joburg’s most affluent suburbs. In 2019, local company Vumacam is busy installing 15,000 high-definition surveillance cameras throughout Johannesburg to prevent crime. Vumacam’s camera supplier, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, is also a major supplier to the Chinese government in Xinjiang. 4
The company stated earlier this year that it sees the “need for cities to become smarter and more efficient. We hope that we can be a part of that exciting future. These smart-city initiatives could possibly tackle congestion, energy efficiency and emergency care response times, to name a few.” 4
Asked about that speculation, Vumacam says it doesn’t use facial recognition and will not consider using it until the technology is adequately regulated. “We don’t believe that facial recognition technology as it stands (from any provider) is reliable enough for ethical use,” says Vumacam's CEO Ricky Croock. 2
References
- a b "{A 2020 court fight in South Africa reveals dominance of biometric surveillance industry".
- a b c "South Africa’s private surveillance machine is fueling a digital apartheid". (2022) <https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/04/19/1049996/south-africa-ai-surveillance-digital-apartheid/> Accessed: 2022-07-06
- ^ "Features – Vumacam". (2022) <https://www.vumacam.co.za/features/> Accessed: 2022-07-06
- a b "How China’s persecuted people are paying the price for Joburg’s sense of security". (2019) <https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-07-21-how-chinas-persecuted-people-are-paying-the-price-for-joburgs-sense-of-security/> Accessed: 2022-07-06