China expected to boost its surveillance network with the installation of more cameras

Despite being the most populated country in the world with 1.4 billion people, China boasts five slots in the top 10 most monitored cities, a list that also includes London and Atlanta.

The latest development will see the number of surveillance cameras tripling to over 600 million with an average of one camera for every two people by 2020. There have been heated debates over the new system with critics claiming that it will restrict the freedom and invade the privacy of citizens.

However, the Chinese government, through the Ministry of Public Security has defended the move, which aims to restore morality, curb crime, and enforce accepted norms. Expect to see high-tech, AI-enabled surveillance cameras on Chinese roads, classrooms, stadiums, and even bathrooms!