Ljubljana’s municipal surveillance: Where trust trumps data

Transparency Tested: Council Demands Data-Driven Review of Municipal CCTV Effectiveness

A recent municipal council debate in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana marked the culmination of a year-long campaign of EDRi member Državljan D, during which they compiled all publicly accessible data on municipal CCTV cameras. Državljan D petitioned for the mandatory publication of their geolocation information, and challenged the absence of evidence supporting their effectiveness.

The authorities did not address the concerns, instead claiming that increased transparency would exacerbate urban crime, while asserting that the CCTV network’s effectiveness is “very good” — a claim made without any supporting data. In light of these unsatisfactory responses, council members formally requested that the city commission a data-supported study to assess the effectiveness of the CCTV system. The request has yet to be approved by the municipal budget office. This request remains pending.

The Surveillance Paradox: Trust Versus Evidence in Ljubljana’s Camera Network

Državljan D’s started using freedom of information requests to investigate the city’s municipal CCTV system since 2022 and uncovered a concerning picture: Ljubljana is monitored by more than 500 cameras that cover its streets, squares, parks, and various other public spaces. This data was obtained after a protracted legal battle between the city and the state Data Protection Authority, which supported the NGO’s request and was subsequently sued by the city.

In light of the extensive surveillance network revealed, Državljan D asked: How does this system enhance the city’s security, and on what basis does the city decide where to expand its CCTV coverage?

They petitioned the municipal council to advocate for a legislative amendment that would require the city to publish CCTV geolocation data on its official website. In response, the council organized a petition commission debate, including representatives from both the municipality and Državljan D. During the debate, municipal representatives reiterated their commitment to privacy legislation while contending that public access to CCTV geolocation data could compromise citizen security. They further asserted that “people like CCTV cameras,” though this claim was made without providing any supporting statistical evidence.

The political discussion appeared to rely heavily on subjective opinions and unverified claims by the authorities, lacking statistically relevant data to assure citizens that the municipal CCTV system is meeting its intended objectives. This absence of evidence reinforces the argument that the CCTV network serves as little more than a superficial security measure, creating a false sense of safety while imposing a significant financial burden on the city’s budget through the costs of new installations and ongoing maintenance.

The Ljubljana municipal council representatives ultimately voted against Državljan D’s proposal to publicly disclose the geolocation of municipal CCTV cameras. However, the opposition successfully secured approval for a request to conduct a study evaluating the effectiveness of the municipal CCTV system. This request is currently awaiting a budget suitability assessment by the city.

Techno-Solutionism: Bold Claims, Unproven Solutions

For Državljan D the most disappointing aspect of the unsuccessful campaign to amend local legislation was not the outcome itself, but rather the authorities’ reliance on unsubstantiated trust rather than empirical data when dismissing the request. The organisation says they anticipated that the petition might be rejected, yet had hoped that the decision would be supported by comprehensive, data-driven arguments rather than unverified claims.

Državljan D wants to evaluate their approach to tackling surveillance capitalism: They have relied on a data-driven strategy to counter emerging technologies and practices, which proving inadequate against the prevailing “trust us, not them” narrative.

Državljan D identified a need to develop innovative methods that blend empirical evidence with compelling communication to effectively address these challenges. This development, in turn, paves the way for a dangerous shift toward faith-based discourse, which is entirely incompatible with the prevailing rational debate and the evidence-based processes that inform political decision-making.

While awaiting the city’s decision on the budget feasibility of the CCTV effectiveness study, Državljan D will continue to raise public awareness about related issues and encourage citizens to exercise their privacy rights to monitor and hold the municipal CCTV network accountable. Simultaneously, the organisation will persist in urging municipal political representatives to leverage their authority to halt the proliferation of unnecessary, privacy-invasive technologies.

Contribution by: EDRi member Državljan D / Citizen D