Installed in the sidewalk recess or on the walls, the cameras multiply in neighborhoods considered upscale in São Paulo, such as Brooklin, Moema, Itaim Bibi, and Mooca, in addition to Leblon and Barra da Tijuca, in Rio de Janeiro. The popularity of security cameras inside businesses and homes has grown exponentially in recent decades, but now, private companies are taking this monitoring to the streets.
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Numbers
In São Paulo alone, at least 15,000 of these private cameras have already been installed to monitor the streets, according to a survey by BBC News Brasil of the five largest companies operating in this market. This is more, for example, than what São Paulo City Hall claims to have installed on the city’s streets: 12,900 cameras.
In Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel, a monitoring company, estimates that it has at least 5,000 cameras installed. The other companies did not provide data on this matter.
Crime Inhibition
The companies claim that crimes have already been solved based on the footage and that their presence on the streets helps to inhibit crimes. In turn, some customers say that they increase the feeling of security. According to these companies, the idea is to create a network of cameras capable of monitoring criminal actions and assisting public authorities in investigations.
Another argument is that the presence of cameras, marked by colored LED lighting, would inhibit new crimes from being committed in areas where these cameras were installed. However, there is still no data demonstrating this crime reduction.
What the Public Security Departments Say
The São Paulo Public Security Secretariat (SSP) did not say whether the rates fell in the regions where there is a greater concentration of these cameras and also did not say whether they use these images to help in investigations. He also did not answer whether these images are integrated into the Military Police monitoring system.
In Rio de Janeiro, the State Secretariat for Public Security (Sesp) says it has an integrated system between the security forces and 18 public and private institutions, with 260,000 thousand devices (including cameras and alarms), this project began in July 2023 and the government has not yet produced reports on crime reduction.
Positive Point
For some experts, installing a network of monitoring cameras is positive, as they can help with the investigation. However, a team prepared to investigate cases identified by using content recorded by the cameras is always necessary.
Experience in Other Countries
Other countries also have this type of camera monitoring carried out by private companies. These include the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, Canada and South Africa. Some countries even have a partnership with the police, as is the case in some American states.
Analysis:
The emergence of private companies specialized in monitoring public roads is driven by the fear of violence, one of the main concerns of Brazilians today. This fear arises, in part, from the feeling of impunity and the State’s lack of responsibility in dealing with citizens’ problems, revealing the inefficiency of public institutions in the face of these issues.
Furthermore, the fear of crime is amplified by certain news reports in the press, social networks, and local media outlets, which act as catalysts for this feeling of insecurity. These media contribute to the perception that the environment is more dangerous than it is, leading to greater demand for private security solutions.
Sources: Folha de SP.
