Institute Director at the Moscow Urban Forum

Participation at the session "Total Security or Total Control? Ethical Dilemmas of the Technological City"

Alexey Ivanov, along with writer Yevgeny Morozov, talked about how in the era of digital technologies, there is a warning of threats to the city, and confidentiality of personal data is a central issue. Should city authorities ask residents of megacities whether or not they agree with their monitoring? How long should city services keep information about citizens from cameras and sensors? Is it openly permissible to use surveillance cameras that can recognize sex, determine age, and even register a person's face?

Millions of surveillance cameras and wireless sensors in real time measure the noise level and determine the quality of air, monitor what happens in public spaces and collect information about the behavior of citizens and their movement around the city. Aggregating and analysing these data, city administrations can prevent emergencies, fight crime more effectively and even prevent the spread of diseases in megacities. However, the widespread use of control systems raises many questions about data confidentiality. Many townspeople express fears that the city authorities can use their personal data against them.