Urban Surveillance Cameras: Balancing Security Requirements and Human Rights Protection

The adoption of urban surveillance systems in Morocco faces several challenges in balancing security requirements with the protection of individual rights. This is compounded by the absence of a comprehensive institutional framework that ensures coordination among various stakeholders, guarantees efficient resource mobilization, and upholds the principle of spatial justice.

 

 

Executive Summary

The implementation of smart surveillance system projects continues to encounter setbacks during the deployment phase. This is primarily due to the absence of permanent institutional mechanisms that would concretize the objectives of smart policing practices in curbing the spread of urban crime nationwide. Furthermore, there is a weak legal and regulatory framework with ill-defined parameters to clearly establish these systems, particularly concerning the precise distinction between the right to security on the one hand, and the right to privacy on the other. This is especially critical regarding sensitive data, which must be protected from digital processing or infringement. In light of this legislative deficit, the institution responsible for overseeing the protection of personal data appears to have limited powers, rendering it unable to adequately fulfill its role in safeguarding this legitimate right for citizens.

Introduction

In recent years, Morocco has embarked on the deployment of camera surveillance systems with the aim of reducing urban crime. The steps taken so far, particularly in major cities, indicate a strong governmental inclination towards generalizing this measure. However, compared to other nations, these steps appear limited and face multiple challenges, including financial costs, in addition to a weak legislative framework that would bolster the aforementioned direction. This is in anticipation of leveraging the capabilities offered by Artificial Intelligence to overcome various constraints, whether related to combating crimes or enhancing urban control policies.

In light of this, the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN)[1], as the institution entrusted with protecting individuals and property and maintaining public order, aims to design a precise crime map based on modern technology, including surveillance cameras. This approach aligns with the digital strategic framework towards 2030, which has seen implementation across several institutional milestones for a digital Morocco, such as the e-Morocco strategy (2005-2010) and the Information Society and Digital Economy Strategy (2009-2013). The latter focused on developing the information technology sector and promoting the widespread adoption of high-speed internet[2]. Meanwhile, the digital plan (2014-2020) sought to establish modern technology as a fundamental pillar for development, ensuring the integration of all institutions, both public and private, into this digital transformation to ensure all institutions and stakeholders embrace this framework[3].

The year 2015 marks a pivotal turning point in this trajectory, as the General Directorate of National Security initiated the preparation of a five-year plan (2022-2026) aimed at enhancing digital transformation within the security apparatus. This plan focuses on increasing the number of surveillance cameras in major urban centers and establishing command and coordination centers to oversee urban security[4]. This plan is being implemented through numerous measures centered on effectively combating urban crime through smart surveillance technologies.

We hypothesize that the current trend among the state and its security institutions to adopt modern technology, especially smart surveillance camera systems, is considered a valuable opportunity based on at least three considerations: First, smart surveillance cameras may contribute to achieving efficiency and effectiveness in combating urban crime, including solving complex criminal cases. The second consideration is that smart surveillance cameras may alleviate the burden on human resources in the security sector. The third consideration is accelerating the modernization of the security sector through the deployment of Artificial Intelligence technology and keeping pace with the state’s digital transformation strategies in this context.

Therefore, this paper seeks to explore the motivations and stakes for security policymakers behind embracing surveillance camera technology in combating urban crime. This will be achieved by conducting interviews with security experts to investigate the objectives and impediments that hinder and limit the widespread implementation of these projects. We have thus committed to analyzing the opportunities and costs presented by this approach in light of comparative experiences, particularly the nature of institutional and legislative reforms that should be undertaken to accompany this transformation. The aim is to enhance the fight against urban crime and identify the incentives driving the modernization of the security sector through engagement in the digital transformation process within the public administration. Furthermore, this paper aims to highlight the implications for the civil liberties framework amidst the escalating reliance of security agencies on digital data processing techniques to impose forms of surveillance that extend beyond the prevention of urban crime, at times reaching the point of violating individual rights, especially when these practices are based on biased criteria targeting individuals based on their political or ideological stances or ethnic backgrounds.

 

The Evolution of Reliance on Surveillance Cameras to Combat Crime

The deployment of camera technology in urban management unequivocally signals the extent of administrative and technical modernization within police operations. This is particularly true as it facilitates close monitoring of individuals and public spaces, with the potential for collecting and processing big data efficiently and rapidly. Comparative experiences, specifically in the United Kingdom, indicate that the use of surveillance cameras has significantly aided in controlling crime scenes by enabling direct and easy identification of individuals’ digital footprints, based on genetic and biometric features, thereby allowing for the apprehension of suspects in the shortest possible time[5]. Furthermore, other experiences, particularly the Canadian one, show that widespread use of surveillance cameras assists in monitoring and tracking the evolving trends of urban crime, including actual and potential hotspots. This is derived from the substantial data provided by the monitoring and collection process, which, once analyzed, helps categorize crimes based on their severity to public security and order. In other words, the Canadian experience demonstrates how countries can develop a precise urban crime map by relying on surveillance cameras[6].

At the national level, the shift towards adopting smart surveillance cameras in police work became demonstrably apparent after terrorist attacks, most recently the 2011 Argana café bombing. This incident led the territorial collective of Marrakech to become the first among its counterparts in deploying surveillance cameras. From this point, the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) began to implement fundamental reforms in the security structure aimed at developing proactive capabilities and raising vigilance levels in major urban centers[7]. Following this reformist direction, the decision was made in 2015 to establish “Emergency Police” units. These are multi-service security units, operated by specialized departments that work in an integrated manner between command and the field. Security command provides coordination, guidance, and support, relying on precise and efficient management of data collected from surveillance camera systems in various public spaces. This data assists them in providing support and intelligence to field units, whose mission is operational intervention against suspects, within a proactive and preventive approach that undoubtedly enhances the effectiveness of crime control policy[8].

This trend was tangibly demonstrated by the DGSN’s inauguration of the main Command and Coordination Center in Casablanca-Anfa on April 8, 2022, a step reflecting the state’s direction towards enhancing smart surveillance mechanisms in urban areas. The time span between 2015 and 2022 seems relatively long, especially since the practical commencement of the center’s construction began on January 25, 2016[9]. A budget of 460 million dirhams was allocated, with contributions from the Casablanca-Settat Regional Council, Casa Transport company, and Casablanca City Council. The reason for this delay is unknown, but the completion of the center itself signifies that the direction remained consistent. Notably, the center incorporates a network of 210 cameras, supported by Artificial Intelligence, and the authorities supervising the center intend to increase the number of cameras to 650 in the future. This expansion aims to connect the network with tramway cameras, existing cameras in airports, Casablanca ports and Mohammedia, as well as the camera networks in major commercial markets and banks[10].

Despite the nascent nature of the experience in the Casablanca-Settat region, its positive preliminary results have spurred its generalization. In 2023, the Minister of Interior unveiled a comprehensive governmental initiative aimed at universally adopting camera surveillance systems. In this context, he mentioned 24 projects spanning numerous prefectures and provinces. He justified this by emphasizing the crucial role of surveillance cameras in crime resolution, noting their particular effectiveness in swiftly identifying suspects. Furthermore, these cameras enable security services to respond quickly to incidents of theft and violence, and to proactively counter any criminal activities aimed at damaging public or private property.[11].

In pursuit of these efforts, the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) has expressed its commitment to developing a network of smart surveillance camera systems to help advance urban security. Since 2020, it has implemented a biometric digital identity system, which includes the digitalization of fingerprints to enable law enforcement agencies to conduct automated identification and verification of individuals[12]. In 2024, the Directorate signed a cooperation protocol with the Ministry of Justice to establish a central system for accessing and processing data in real-time. This aims to enhance the efficiency of security services in combating crime, ensuring speed and accuracy in investigations conducted by the judicial police, and facilitating sound decision-making based on reliable, accurate, and continuously updated information[13].

 

The Stakes of Deploying Smart Surveillance Cameras to Reduce Crime

From the foregoing, it is clear that the conviction regarding the efficacy of adopting smart surveillance cameras has been established across multiple state institutions. During the “Open Days” activities hosted in Agadir on May 16, 2024, the Directorate expressed its desire to leverage more technological solutions and applications for managing security services in cities. It acknowledged their positive impact on enhancing the efficiency of security interventions and the effectiveness of urban control policies[14]. However, this does not mean that the underlying stake for adopting smart surveillance cameras is limited solely to enhancing the effectiveness of security services in combating crime, as mentioned earlier. Other significant stakes appear to underpin this trend, perhaps most notably alleviating the burden on human personnel in the security sector and achieving criminal justice.

Regarding the enhancement of the effectiveness and efficiency of security interventions, several incidents have demonstrated the success of surveillance camera systems in resolving numerous criminal cases by identifying perpetrators, even over time. This approach was evident in resolving high-profile public opinion cases, such as the murder of student Anwar in Tangier[15], whose circumstances remained unclear for two years until surveillance camera footage revealed new leads in the case, indicating the presence of other parties at the crime scene who might be primary or involved parties in the murder[16]. Similarly, in the “Corniche” crime at Ain Diab in Casablanca, a surveillance camera documented the details of the murder of student Badr, who was run over by a car, and identified the individuals involved in the act. This facilitated security investigations due to the pre-existing digital evidence revealing the identities of those involved, leading to their arrest warrants[17].

Analyses by the spokesperson for the General Directorate of National Security confirm this trend[18]: technologies derived from Artificial Intelligence have become a strategic choice and a vital necessity for improving urban control policies. This assertion is supported by statistics on the operational performance of the Command and Coordination Center in Greater Casablanca for the year 2023, which recorded approximately 129,704 suspicious cases. The surveillance camera network was utilized to direct security patrols to observe suspicious behaviors. These reconnaissance interventions resulted in the detection of over 44,500 confirmed criminal acts, including cases of theft, assaults, damage to public property, and even traffic accidents[19].

Conversely, 85,204 other cases out of the total monitored remain unresolved, complicating the assessment of surveillance cameras’ effectiveness. This is partly due to the Moroccan experience still being in its nascent stages[20], making it challenging to conduct a comprehensive annual impact assessment of these systems. International experiences reveal methodological issues in evaluating the effectiveness of surveillance cameras, as seen in a 1990 study conducted in the United Kingdom, which analyzed 130 cases in cities across England and Wales[21]. This study noted that most research on the subject relied on data from official institutions, which could affect the objectivity of the results. The study also observed that the time frame for evaluating these projects is often limited, preventing a comprehensive understanding of the long-term impact of surveillance cameras on crime prevention[22]. Furthermore, the study indicated that merely presenting percentages is not a sufficient indicator for measuring surveillance cameras’ effectiveness, as their adoption can lead to crime displacement to uncovered areas rather than genuinely reducing it[23].

The DGSN’s integration and deployment of technology in its security operations aim to alleviate professional pressures on police officers and investigative teams by swiftly identifying perpetrators through the utilization of digital evidence. Analyses by security leaders confirm this trend[24]: surveillance camera systems are intended to ease the difficulties faced by criminal investigators. Where police officers once exerted arduous efforts to unravel the threads of certain crimes requiring extensive work to apprehend perpetrators, these cameras have become a crucial source of information for identifying lawbreakers, often yielding positive results in proving crimes. This technology also contributes to saving effort for investigative teams when processing cases, thereby serving criminal justice and implementing the recommendations of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

The General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) has diligently kept pace with the state’s digital transformation policy, particularly in accelerating the digitalization of administrative services, with a strong focus on those related to security, and enhancing secure access to this suite of electronic services. In this context, over 17 agreements have been signed with governmental and professional bodies such as Bank Al-Maghrib, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, and other national agencies to establish service interoperability between them[25]. These efforts fall within the Directorate’s strategy to bolster cooperation and coordination among official institutions by enabling security services direct access to official databases. This endeavor aims to achieve the objectives of the Directorate’s five-year plan, which focuses on adopting digital solutions to deliver more efficient and effective security services. In this regard, an advanced information system, GESTARR (Police District Management Information System), has been developed to ensure coordination and collaboration between security and judicial authorities. The system commences by managing felony and misdemeanor files at police precincts, tracking the progress of referred cases. Upon completion of investigations, cases are transferred to the competent judicial authorities to ensure expedited procedures and effective sentencing[26].

 

Challenges of Smart Urban Crime Surveillance and Requirements for Generalizing the Experience

Urban control policies related to implementing smart surveillance systems in urban spaces face fundamental challenges that impede the allocation of sufficient investments for these projects aimed at enhancing urban security. Among the most prominent of these challenges are limited financial resources and the prioritization set in the agenda of digital transformation strategies, which restrict the availability of necessary funding for implementing these initiatives[27]. The digital transformation agenda focuses on key axes, including the digitalization of public services, fostering the dynamics of the digital economy, supporting technology startups, preparing a plan for training digital talents, and finally, developing the telecommunications network and generalizing internet access. In this context, the state relies on a digitalization approach as a fundamental lever for achieving development goals within its digital transformation strategies[28].

These priorities become evident when analyzing the budgets allocated for digital transformation policies. For instance, the period between (2005-2010) saw an allocation of 20 billion dirhams[29], while the period between (2009-2013) witnessed an allocation of 5.20 billion dirhams[30]. The budget allocated for the subsequent phases (2024-2026) reached approximately 11 billion dirhams[31]. Despite the significance of these appropriations, the largest portion is directed towards the aforementioned development projects, especially in major urban centers, which means that smart surveillance system projects are also subject to the logic of sectoral and spatial priorities.

This approach has been reflected in the funding and implementation of both smart surveillance camera system projects, along with their corresponding command and coordination centers. In light of these development priorities, precedence is given to securing and meeting the security requirements in major urban centers with high population density and significant tourism and industrial appeal[32], such as Greater Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech, Fez, Agadir, Kenitra, Meknes, and Rabat, where substantial budgets have been allocated for these projects[33]. Conversely, smaller cities and marginalized areas remain outside the scope of benefit, due to the difficulty of mobilizing financial resources at the local level and the limited self-capabilities of territorial collectivities[34].

Table (A): Budget Allocated for Installing Smart Surveillance Camera System Projects in Major Urban Centers

Urban Centers	Budget Allocated for Implementing Surveillance Camera System Projects	Project Implementation Year
Greater Casablanca	460 Million MAD	2016
Meknes	46 Million MAD	2022
Marrakech	20 Million MAD	–
Tangier	400 Million MAD	2024
Agadir	54 Million MAD	2025
Rabat	100 Million MAD	2025
Fez	100 Million MAD	2025

Source: Prepared by the researcher based on data published in various journalistic sources.

 

It is worth noting that the challenge of insufficient funding for smart surveillance system projects has been faced by most leading countries in this field. France, for example, pioneered the establishment of a Joint Inter-Ministerial Fund (FIDP)[35], specifically dedicated to financing crime prevention measures and provisions within a framework that ensures contractual arrangements between the state and local authorities in the areas of urban policy and urban security. This fund has enabled the financing of surveillance camera systems in over 300 municipalities and supported the equipping of approximately 120 municipalities with urban command and operational coordination centers[36]. This indicates that France has opted for a constructive institutional approach in this domain by creating a specialized body, the General Secretariat for Combating Deviance and Radicalization (SG-CIDP). This body is responsible for joint coordination among relevant public policy actors in crime prevention and internal security, and it supports the government at both central and local levels by monitoring urban security needs and identifying the necessary resources for the annual implementation and development of smart surveillance systems[37].

In Morocco, however, a clear institutional gap persists at this level. This is evidenced by the limited budgets allocated for implementing urban surveillance system projects and the fragmented nature of these initiatives. The national landscape lacks a specialized central mechanism responsible for mobilizing financial resources, coordinating efforts, and ensuring continuity of funding, including maintenance, development, and follow-up operations. This is exacerbated by a reality characterized by dispersed initiatives and their subjection to the logic of spatial disparities, linked to the varying intrinsic capacities of territorial collectivities, which weakens the long-term effectiveness of these projects[38].

From this perspective, the French model can be considered a pioneering experience adaptable to the Moroccan context. This could involve establishing a joint inter-ministerial fund under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior, dedicated to supporting urban security and smart surveillance measures. Such a mechanism would contribute to overcoming the issues of priority hierarchies and the lack of appropriations within local councils[39]. Moreover, it would contribute to building a unified and comprehensive national vision based on the integration of security and developmental dimensions, thereby achieving spatial justice between major urban centers and smaller cities to enhance stability within an integrated project for urban crime prevention.

At the legislative level, relevant laws have not adequately addressed the complexities and risks of investing in smart surveillance for urban crime control. Examples include Law No. 09-08 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data[40], and Law No. 05-20 related to cybersecurity. This is due to the lack of a clear framework for smart policing practices, especially in ensuring harmonization and integration among various policies and official actors to continuously and coordinately support the implementation of urban surveillance system projects in the context of combating urban crime. We also point to certain legislative provisions that pose several practical difficulties, such as Article 47, which obstructs the analysis of digital footprints concerning the provision of genetic fingerprints. According to the text of this article, this remains subject to an exceptional case related to conducting expert analysis to confirm the conformity of evidence with suspects at the crime scene[41]. This provision limits the exercise of duties by security services and judicial authorities in identifying individuals involved in criminal activities[42].

In connection with this, there is an urgent need to accelerate efforts to establish a digital infrastructure capable of supporting the work of security services in investigation and inquiry processes. In this regard, China’s experience, which since 2010 has been involved in establishing a central security information database (Y-STR Database) as part of implementing “The Golden Shield” plan, can be considered. This database has been continuously developed to ensure the mandatory collection of digital samples related to genetic and DNA fingerprints from all citizens, without limiting this measure to individuals with prior criminal or judicial records[43].

In the same vein, there is a near-total absence of an institutional framework that oversees the development of a coherent regulatory reference ensuring reconciliation and integration between the objectives of security policies aimed at preventing urban crime through the adoption of surveillance camera systems at the core of urban planning and city policies[44]. In this respect, the experience of the United Kingdom can be emulated. The UK developed a reference framework that includes practical guidelines for framing the work of central and local actors[45], including precise rules for adapting urban development designs, urban engineering operations, and city policy to the objectives of urban crime prevention policies[46].

The behavioral challenge related to the professional model of police work, as represented by the General Directorate of National Security, is one of the most prominent obstacles to transitioning to a model that relies on community surveillance behind cameras rather than intensive field presence. Based on this traditional model, the physical presence of police in public spaces is conventionally seen as a symbol of state prestige and strong presence, reflecting control and giving citizens a sense of security[47]. However, this perception conflicts with the requirements of modernization. Smart surveillance systems can increase the efficiency of security agencies without the need for extensive field deployment[48]. Resistance to this transformation stems from the association of police professional traditions with the idea of physical presence as a tool to assert authority. Experiences in some Western countries, such as the Netherlands, show that reliance on technology, even with a diminished police presence on the streets, reflects stability rather than state weakness, as smart systems enhance security efficiency through the rational deployment of police in crime-prone locations[49].

Despite these challenges, which may seem to hinder the widespread adoption of this experience, they in fact only delay it without posing a definitive obstacle. This is especially true as Morocco is poised to host international events such as the World Cup, which presents an opportunity to expand the use of surveillance cameras, not only in major cities but also to include smaller towns and areas adjacent to the cities where matches and related events will take place. Furthermore, relying solely on human resources, no matter how efficient, will not be sufficient to manage massive crowds in record time, making this upcoming event a necessity that compels the General Directorate of National Security to move towards comprehensive digital transformation[50]. In this regard, some African experiences, such as that of South Africa, can serve as a guide. The hosting of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa provided a major opportunity for the widespread adoption of smart surveillance systems, which were no longer limited to the major host cities but extended to include neighboring smaller towns and areas to ensure comprehensive security coverage[51].

Fourth: Human Rights Concerns within Smart Urban Crime Surveillance Systems

Despite the entry into force of Law No. 09-08 concerning the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data on February 18, 2009, which established the National Commission for the Control of Personal Data Protection (CNDP), this law did not fully account for the caveats associated with electronic processing that could expose citizens to security practices that violate their fundamental rights. Further exacerbating the fragility of the legal framework is that the provisions of this law are somewhat outdated and do not align with the constitutional gains enshrined in the 2011 Constitution, particularly Chapter II on Freedoms and Fundamental Rights, specifically Article 24, which stipulates the protection of private life and prohibits the violation of privacy in any form[52].

In this context, the fourth paragraph of Article 1 of Law No. 09-08 explicitly stipulates the exclusion of security operations from the Commission’s oversight[53]. This grants security agencies broad powers in using surveillance technologies without effective oversight, a fact corroborated by the findings of a field study conducted in Morocco titled “Artificial Intelligence Technology: Urban Governance and Border Management,” published in 2024 by Cambridge University[54]. Its results highlighted that the absence of effective reference controls contributed to the proliferation of surveillance technology malpractices[55].

The risks associated with smart policing practices are evident when considering international experiences. In the United States, the 2024 annual report by the Racial Classification Advisory Council confirmed that most arrest warrants were based on erroneous data, resulting from discriminatory programming of smart systems that led to the classification of individuals with dark skin as potential criminals, while white citizens were inherently deemed upright[56].

In the European context, reports from the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) revealed that security services have actively perpetuated certain discriminatory practices[57], leveraging urban surveillance systems that disclose ethnic and religious identity data. In France, this trend in 2023 led police patrols in Marseille to conduct arbitrary searches targeting citizens of Maghrebi origin, resulting in the death of 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk due to excessive use of force[58]. In the Netherlands, security authorities have routinely employed electronic processing techniques to track the movements of minors from impoverished families and Arab backgrounds in public spaces, a behavior that reveals a propensity towards discriminatory surveillance[59].

While the situation in Morocco and Europe poses serious risks related to the restriction of public freedoms, it remains, nonetheless, less extreme compared to the Chinese model, which represents an extreme case in this field. The Chinese experience has transcended the idea of mere surveillance or tracking to rapidly integrate the surveillance camera ecosystem with information systems through the innovation of a “Social Credit System.” This system has enabled authorities to impose comprehensive and systematic control over individuals. This has gone beyond monitoring behavior to collectively punishing individuals, where, based on the analysis of digital footprints, punitive decisions are issued, obliging various administrative systems to adhere to them. As a result, the individuals concerned are deprived of access to essential services[60], such as public transport, use of bank cards, and access to loans or government jobs[61].

Consequently, the Moroccan legislative framework remains in urgent need of a precise and comprehensive review, given the increasing reliance on smart surveillance systems for producing digital evidence, without effective institutional or legal guarantees. On one hand, consideration could be given to adopting a democratic urban charter, serving as a complementary reference framework to Law No. 09-08. This charter would be drafted by the Ministry of Interior in coordination with territorial collectivities and the National Commission for the Control of Personal Data Protection to define guiding principles for data collection and the use of smart surveillance camera systems within urban security policies[62].

In this context, the French experience can serve as a guide for improving the legislative and institutional framework. France amended Law No. 78-17 concerning Data Processing, Data Files and Individual Liberties, originally issued in 1978, and was superseded by No. 536-2019[63]. This expanded the scope of legal oversight to include smart data processing for urban security purposes, granting new powers to the specialized commission[64]. These powers include overseeing the processing of personal data used for security maintenance and crime prevention, providing binding guidance to security agencies regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence technologies related to surveillance camera systems. The commission can also impose punitive sanctions against any entity that exceeds permissible standards in deploying technological initiatives for surveillance purposes. Furthermore, the commission’s duties were enhanced by appointing data protection inspectors in every municipality and prefecture equipped with urban surveillance systems. This administrative service provides citizens with more information about the adoption of smart surveillance system measures in crime prevention and allows them to submit petitions and complaints regarding the use of their data[65].

 

Conclusion

Attempts to adopt urban surveillance systems in Morocco face several setbacks due to the lack of a strategic vision that enables a balance between development objectives and security requirements. Decision-makers also remain constrained by prioritizing major urban centers with significant economic, touristic, and industrial weight.

Although the adoption of smart surveillance systems reflects a move towards modernizing the security sector and enhancing efficiency in crime fighting, true effectiveness cannot be achieved without permanent institutions that ensure the sustainability of this approach. Efficiency is not measured by the availability and deployment of technology in service of security; rather, it requires an integrated institutional framework that ensures coordination among various stakeholders, guarantees efficient mobilization of necessary resources, and secures the continuity of these projects within well-defined public policies that meet the needs of all cities and regions, in a vision that enshrines the principle of spatial justice. In light of this, we propose the following recommendations, which can address these shortcomings and enhance the success of ongoing interventions being developed and implemented:

• Establish a joint national fund in the form of a special account within the annual finance law, overseen by the Ministry of Interior, to finance the needs of cities. This would provide appropriate and sustainable funding to expand the scope of these systems and distribute them fairly across different regions, as annual financial mobilization will enable the generalization of these measures without discrimination between major and minor urban centers.
• Form a joint cell between security and judicial agencies to coordinate efforts and ensure continuous cooperation between both sides in managing cases based on automated data processing.
• Lay the foundation for smart practices in police work by re-examining the provisions of Article 47 of the Criminal Procedure Code to include all citizens regarding the verification of DNA sample conformity with crime scene evidence.
• Integrate provisions related to the installation of surveillance cameras into the texts regulating urban planning and city policies, which will help in their proper use and support coordination between central and territorial actors.

Additionally, the challenge of building effective urban surveillance policies necessitates establishing a legal system that balances the requirements of crime prevention with guarantees of respect for private life and individual liberties. This requires amending and supplementing Law No. 09-08 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data, with a view to expanding the scope of legal oversight to include smart data processing for urban crime prevention purposes, while granting the National Commission for the Control of Personal Data Protection new powers, similar to those of the National Commission for Informatics and Liberties (CNIL) in France.

 

Footnotes

[1]Article 2 of the Statute of National Security Personnel: “The General Directorate of National Security is entrusted with the mission of maintaining public order and protecting persons and property.” Available at: https://shorturl.at/EUvrS

[2]El Meniyari, Rachid. “The Role of Legislation in Keeping Pace with Digital Development and Protecting Electronic Data and Transactions.” Intervention before the House of Councillors. Official Parliament website. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/4e5bdda3

[3]Bahkaka, Hamid. “Morocco and Digital Transformation: Legislative, Institutional, and Strategic Framework.” Article, September 20, 2024. Available at: https://shorturl.at/com5h

[4]“Security Directorate Continues to Implement Provisions of the Security Strategy for Combating Crime for the Period 2022-2026.” Barlamane.com, December 26, 2023. Available at: https://www.barlamane.com/مديرية-الأمن-تُواصل-تنفيذ-بنود-الاستر/

 

[5]Oxley, Greg, Maria Lalic, et al. “Police Use of Live Facial Recognition Technology.” Report, House of Commons Library, London, UK, November 2024, p. 3. Available at: https://shorturl.at/mBAHq

[6]“Overview of Crime and Intelligence Analysis in Canada.” pp. 8-9. Available at: https://shorturl.at/KlbIb

[7]Interview with a security official, Scientific and Technical Police Department, August 25, 2024.

[8]General Directorate of National Security. “Emergency Police… A New Philosophy to Support Proximity Policing.” Police Magazine, no. 52 (September 2024): 3.

[9]Press release on the proceedings of the extraordinary session of the Casablanca City Council, concerning Amendment Annex No. 3 to the agreement related to the establishment of the Command and Coordination Center. Available at: https://shorturl.at/IFL3I

[10]Bamou, Khalid. “The Main Command and Coordination Center in Casablanca… A Security Monitoring Facility with World-Class Cameras.” Article, April 8, 2022. Available at: https://www.cawalisse.com/164686

[11]Minister of Interior’s response to a written question by MP Abdelkader El Khihel (Istiqlal Party for Unity and Egalitarianism), 2023.

[12]Dahir Sharif No. 1.20.80 (August 8, 2020) implementing Law No. 04.20 related to the Electronic National Identity Card. Available at: https://www.cnie.ma/assets/pdfs/CNIE_dahir_ar.pdf

[13]Ministry of Justice press release on the contents of the cooperation protocol. Official website of the Ministry of Justice. Available at: https://shorturl.at/0QwlZ

[14]“The fifth session of the National Security Open Days event – held in Agadir on May 16, 2024 – highlighted the tasks of emergency patrols and the advantages of Artificial Intelligence technology in serving security to enhance urban security.” Press release, Maghreb Arab Press Agency website. Available at: https://bit.ly/4aWnm2v

[15]Family statements regarding the Anwar case. YouTube. https://youtu.be/ONKfptcP57s?si=O5C6qX7Drqa3Wfhu

[16]“New developments in the case of student Anwar in Tangier… What did surveillance cameras reveal?” Tangier 24, November 21, 2024. Available at: https://shorturl.at/EbiK3

[17]“New developments in the murder case of student Badr in Ain Diab, Casablanca.” Article, April 14, 2024. Available at: https://shorturl.at/xy7B9

[18]Sabik, Boubker. “Artificial Intelligence in the Service of Security… The Moroccan Police Model.” Security and Life Magazine, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, no. 450 (September 2024): 112. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/264pfbtr

[19]Interview with the Head of the Communication Cell, Greater Casablanca Security Prefecture, October 29, 2024.

[20]General Directorate of National Security. “Annual Balance Sheet of National Security, 2024.” Press Release, p. 14.

[21]For a discussion on the evaluation of surveillance cameras and later studies on authority dominance and securitization, see: Nishiyama, Hidefumi. “Crowd Surveillance: The (in)Securitization of The Urban Body.” Security Dialogue 49, no. 3 (June 2018). Available at: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0967010617741436; Lysova, Tatiana. “The Problematisation of Urban Insecurity and Video Surveillance As a Solution in Budapest (Hungary) and Milan (Italy).” Dissertation, Department of Sociology and Social Research, Italy, October 2022. Available at: https://boa.unimib.it/retrieve/e39773b9-2d5e-35a3-e053-3a05fe0aac26/phd_unimib_839367.pdf

[22]Phillips, Coretta. “A Review of CCTV Evaluations: Crime Reduction Effects and Attitudes Towards Its Use.” Crime Prevention Studies 10 (1999): 124. Home Office Policing and Reducing Crime Unit, UK. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/nhbmthfk

[23]Ibid., p. 124.

[24]Interview with a security official, Judicial Police Department, Regional Security in Taza, January 2, 2025.

[25]Annual Balance Sheet of National Security for 2024, previously cited, pp. 1-5.

[26]Ibid., p. 7.

[27]Interview with the Head of the Communication Cell, Greater Casablanca Security Prefecture, October 29, 2024.

[28]Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform. “Digital Strategy 2030.” Official website. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/3d9ck3au

[29]El Yahyaoui, Yahya. “Digital Strategies in Morocco: Flawed Concepts and Absence of Governance.” Statement, Al Sabah newspaper website, October 3, 2022. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/yuxesc43

[30]“Evaluation of Morocco Digital Strategy 2013.” Report, p. 1. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/7657vjde

[31]Mezzour, Ghita. Speech during the launch ceremony of the Digital Strategy, Rabat, September 2024. Press release available at Al Jazeera website: https://shorturl.at/n540C

 

[32]Interview with a security official, Judicial Police Department, Regional Security in Taza, January 2, 2025.

[33]Refer to Table (A) for budget allocation for surveillance camera system projects, illustrating adherence to priorities in major urban centers.

[34]Interview with a security official, Judicial Police Department, Regional Security in Taza, January 2, 2025.

 

[35]Fonds Interministériel de Prévention de la Délinquance et de la Radicalisation (FIPDR). Available at: https://shorturl.at/pgvzc

[36]General Secretariat of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Prevention of Deviance and Radicalization (SG-CIPDR). Press release on FIPD 2024 publication. Available at: https://www.cipdr.gouv.fr/fipd-2024-publication-de-linstruction/

[37]SG-CIPDR. Report, 2021, p. 2. Available at: https://www.cipdr.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Plaquette_presentation_A4_EN_BATpdf.pdf

[38]General Secretariat of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Prevention of Deviance and Radicalization (SG-CIPDR). Official portal on the FIPD. Available at: https://www.cipdr.gouv.fr/le-fipd/

[39]Ibid.

[40]General Directorate of Information Systems Security. Article 1 on scopes of application of processing operations. Official website. Available at: https://www.dgssi.gov.ma/ar/node

[41]Criminal Procedure Law, updated August 22, 2024. Available at: https://shorturl.at/GRzgU

[42]Interview with a security official, Scientific and Technical Police Department, August 25, 2024.

[43]Dirks, Emile, and James Leibold. “Genomic Surveillance: Inside China DNA Dragnet.” Report no. 34, ASPI International Cyber Policy Centre, Australia, 2020, pp. 7-10. Available at: https://www.aspi.org.au/report/genomic-surveillance

[44]Regulatory Law No. 95-73 (1995) on surveillance camera measures in city policies and urban planning. Available at:https://tinyurl.com/msrj3faw

 

[45]HM Government. “Contest, the United Kingdom’s Strategy for Countering Terrorism 2023.” Report CP 903, Secretary of State for the Home Department, July 2023, pp. 24-50. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/2dbb43h2

[46]Schive, Thomas Olsen. “Assessing Urban Security: the Proportionality Assessment.” Dissertation, University of Stavanger, Department of Science and Technology, 2020, p. 27. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/2smahx3j

[47]Interview with Ismail Hammoudi, university professor (Political Science), Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez.

[48]Trevertor, Gregory F., Matt Wollman, et al. “Moving Towards The Future of Policing.” Report, National Security Research Division, RAND, 2011, pp. 1-20. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/54n24uzz

[49]Calderwood, Christie. “Smart City Technology and the Future of Policing.” Article, January 31, 2022. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/ykhhyem9

[50]General Directorate of National Security. Annual Security Report for 2024, pp. 35-38.

[51]Toohey, Kristine, and Tracy Taylor. “Managing Security AtThe World Cup.” Article, January 14, 2014, pp. 187-194. Available at: file:///C:/Users/book/Downloads/9781137373663_11_cha10TT.pdf

[52]Dahir Sharif No. 1.11.91 (July 29, 2011), Article 24, implementing the Constitution. Official Parliament portal. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/ms8y4e2v

[53]General Directorate of Information Systems Security. Article 1 on scopes of application of processing operations. Official website. Available at: https://www.dgssi.gov.ma/ar/node

[54]Bergh, Colin F., S. Natter, K. Cherrate, and Wagner. “Morocco’s Governance of Cities and Borders: AI-Enhanced Surveillance, Facial Recognition, and Human Rights.” In The Cambridge Handbook of Facial Recognition in the Modern State. Cambridge University Press, 2024, pp. 271-272.

[55]Ibid., p. 271.

[56]Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board (RIPA). Annual Report, 2024, pp. 1-17. Available at: https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/media/ripa-board-report-2024.pdf

 

[57]Williams, Patrick, and Eric Kind. “Data-Driven Policing: the Hardwiring of Discriminatory Policing Practices Across Europe.” Report, European Network Against Racism (ENAR), Brussels, November 2019, pp. 6-11. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/ycx6mc79

[58]Avsec, Klara. “France: Surveillance State in the Making.” Article, July 31, 2023. Available at: https://www.enar-eu.org/france-gives-police-permission-to-spy/

[59]La Quadrature du Net. “La Police Prédictive en France: Contre L’opacité et les Discriminations, la Nécessité d’une Interdiction.” Rapport, France, January 2024, pp. 53-62. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/2c78c2nx

[60]Engineering schematic of China’s Social Credit System project. Available at: https://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/fileadmin/files/aam/Asia-Book_A_03_China_Social_Credit_System.pdf

[61]Special Rapporteur. “Regulatory Framework, Surveillance Industry in China.” Human Rights, China, Report, February 2019, pp. 4-6. Available at: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Issues/Opinion/Surveillance/HUMAN_RIGHTS_IN_CHINA.pdf

[62]Regulatory Law No. 73-95, Article 10, on territorial organization and smart surveillance systems. Available at: https://www.aisne.gouv.fr/contenu/telechargement/5070/29607/file/Texte_1995_01_21_Loi_95-73_orientation_programmation_securite_Art-10.pdf

[63]National Commission for Informatics and Liberties (CNIL). Descriptive entry on Decree No. 536-2019. Official website. Available at: https://www.cnil.fr/fr/la-loi-informatique-et-libertes

[64]Decree No. 536-2019 (May 29, 2019) implementing Law No. 17-78 (January 6, 1978), Article 29 of Decision No. 1125-2018 (December 12, 2018). Available at: https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000038528420

[65]General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Article 15. Practical Guide for Data Protection Officers, CNIL. Available at: https://www.cnil.fr/sites/cnil/files/atoms/files/cnil-gdpr_practical_guide_data-protection-officers.pdf