Letters | Huawei cameras in Serbia only add to fears about Chinese mass surveillance

Reports last week that hundreds of surveillance cameras have been installed in Serbia sparked discussions and debates globally. Mass surveillance is becoming increasingly controversial, especially with reference to China’s social credit system. I believe mass surveillance contradicts personal freedoms.

It is a basic human right to perform legal acts without being recorded or tracked. Governments should not have the power to monitor everyone at all times. This reminds me of George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984, with its world of mass surveillance, and the freedom of speech and action eventually destroyed.

Serbian authorities claim the Huawei system helps to slash crime rates but this is not a healthy solution, as it gives rise to grave privacy concerns. Moreover, people are worried that their private information could be accessed by the Chinese government for other uses. To tackle high crime rates, the government could consider other measures, such as stiffer penalties for greater deterrence. Provoking citizens with mass surveillance is not a wise choice.