Planned AI ‘City Brain’ system not meant for surveillance – top Hong Kong official

A top Hong Kong official has clarified that the city's AI "City Brain" system, which is part of a HK$200 million initiative, is not intended for surveillance purposes. Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan addressed privacy concerns during a press conference, clarifying that the system will primarily monitor traffic and urban conditions, rather than individual activities or criminal behavior.

The AI platform, developed by Alibaba, integrates real-time data from various sources, including CCTV cameras, tracking systems, and government databases, to optimize urban governance functions such as traffic management and waste disposal.

Chan, who is leading the task force overseeing the project, emphasized that the system will not monitor individuals, crimes, or thieves. Instead, it will enable immediate responses to incidents like burst water pipes by sharing relevant data with the relevant departments. The government aims to complete the first stage of the system's development by the first quarter of 2028, with full operational capacity expected six to nine years later.

The AI system, which was first introduced in Hangzhou, China in 2017, has since been implemented in cities across the mainland, including Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The project will involve integrating various existing systems, such as the Civil Engineering and Development Department's AI Landslip Warning System and the Transport Department's Real-time Traffic Signal Adjustment System.

The police force will also establish a new "Inter-departmental Major Incident Platform" to centralize real-time data from all units during major public incidents.