The law that was passed by the government and presented to the National Assembly and approved in 2015, regarding the installation of hundreds of cameras in the streets and public places as part of its multi-pronged strategy to control public security, deter criminals and put an end to crimes and accidents, has resurfaced with the same controversy that it infringes on the privacy of a conservative society, although many support the idea calling it an advanced step and an important tool to fight crime.

A total of four areas - Abdullah Al-Salem, Shamiya, Yarmouk and Qadisiya - were to be equipped with "street cameras" in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior. Some people, who considered installing cameras in this way as an “infringement on freedoms”, revolted, while others asserted that the horrific crimes in Kuwait claimed innocent victims, call for diversifying mechanisms to enhance security and expand the circles of “collective effort” to achieve this, stressing that the fight against crime requires a collective effort that is not limited to the security services only, reports a local Arabic daily.

In the opinion of former and current lawyers, as well as senior officials in cooperative society boards, the importance and funding of installing cameras, as well as its characteristics and functions, determine whether it constitutes an infringement of people's freedoms.

Security sources confirmed that surveillance cameras are installed in the main and secondary streets to maintain security and combat widespread crimes, not to spy on residents. The source said that these cameras are under the supervision of the security authorities and are linked to the Operations Room of the Ministry of Interior and are also used in judicial departments as criminal evidence that helps in imposing the correct judgment and identifying criminals.

In order to reduce crime, the source explained that the installation was based on a cooperation protocol signed by the Interior Ministry and the Union of Cooperative Societies. A long time ago, cameras were used in developed countries to protect people and preserve their rights during accidents, thefts and crimes.

With the approval of the Ministry of Affairs, the Dahia and Mansourieh Cooperative Society successfully implemented the initiative of the Ministry of Interior regarding the installation of a security monitoring system for internal roads in residential areas under cooperative societies.

The former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al-Dhahia and Al-Mansuriya Co-op, Abdulwahab Al-Faris, said that the project was signed by the association on May 3, 2021, based on the directives of government agencies and the approval of the Board of Directors at the time, with the aim of providing security protection for the Abdullah Al-Salem and Al-Mansuriya suburbs.

Al-Fares added to Al-Qabas that the goal of the project is to support the security system, as the cameras were linked to a special system of the Ministry of Interior, which supervises it, and that the association was keen to implement it in order to preserve security in the two regions.

In response to a query by MP Osama Al-Shaheen, commented on Twitter about the initiative to install cameras and their presence outside the association’s borders, Al-Fares stated that “the control room, of course, belongs to the Ministry of Interior, not the association, and the photography is not viewed for security and legal reasons and according to what is regulated by law.”

In turn, the head of Dahiat Abdullah Al-Salem and Al-Mansuriya cooperative society Ahmed Al-Rashed confirmed that the association does not manage surveillance cameras at the entrances and exits of the suburbs, indicating that the association only paid the cost of the tender for the installation of cameras, so that it is managed by the “Interior Ministry”.

Al-Rashed added to Al-Qabas that the cooperation with the Ministry of Interior was related to financing only, and that cooperative societies did not cooperate with any other parties except for the executing company.

Camera features and functions include

- Monitoring entrances and exits to residential areas

- Connecting residential areas to the “Dakhiliyah Operations” system

- Monitoring all secondary electricity substations

- High accuracy of license plate reading features

- Monitoring crimes to protect people and preserve their rights

- Provides forensic evidence in identifying criminals