Around 10,000 artificial intelligence (AI)-powered closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed across Kuala Lumpur to help law enforcement tackle crime and ensure public safety. In development since 2020 at an operating cost of RM500 million, the network has increased crime-tackling efficiency by about 50 per cent and contributed to a 57.6 per cent drop in snatch thefts between 2024 and 2025. Senior police officials, including Inspector-General Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail and Comm Datuk Fadil Marsus, reported that the strategically placed system has assisted officers in solving cases and monitoring high-activity urban zones. The technology incorporates facial recognition, geofencing, and behaviour analysis to track movements in real time and detect early signs of floods, accidents, emergencies, and traffic disruptions. However, as city councils expand these automated surveillance capabilities, experts have raised privacy concerns regarding the technology's widespread deployment.

Background: Surveillance and Smart Cities

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