Why Smart Cities Deserve Our Trust, Not Fear
When your city becomes smart, you expect convenience. But you may not expect to be watched, tracked, analyzed, all the time.
That's the uncomfortable paradox behind today's smart cities. Built on data, driven by AI, and powered by sensors, they promise better living. But they also quietly raise the question: how much watching is too much?
Globally, smart cities are booming. From Singapore's predictive traffic lights to Seoul's connected waste systems, we're seeing urban innovation at scale. The Middle East is no exception. In fact, it's one of the world's most ambitious players.
Projects like Smart Dubai and NEOM in Saudi Arabia are redefining urban futures. But in the rush to digitize and optimize, we're beginning to sideline something fundamental, the rights of the people being watched.
The City Is Always Watching
Here's the reality: surveillance is no longer something we notice. It's embedded into the infrastructure of modern life.
In 2018, a Chinese woman's face was wrongly flashed on a public screen for 'jaywalking.' She hadn't crossed the road, her image was on a bus ad. In San Diego, smart streetlights turned into police surveillance tools without public knowledge. Toronto's Sidewalk Labs project was shut down after residents revolted over unclear data policies.
These are not rare cases. They're early signals of a bigger issue: cities are becoming watchers by design.
The Middle East Moves Fast, Talks Less
In the Middle East, governments are heavily investing in smart cities as a symbol of progress, and rightly so. The region faces challenges that smart infrastructure can solve: urban congestion, water scarcity, energy efficiency, and security.
Dubai uses AI to manage traffic and monitor safety. NEOM aims to integrate biometric access and facial recognition into everyday life. On paper, it sounds futuristic. But in practice, it raises critical questions: Who owns this data?
How long is it stored?
Are citizens informed, or asked?
This Isn't an Anti-Tech Argument
Let's be clear, smart cities are not the enemy. In fact, they are essential for the future.
They reduce traffic, cut emissions, and save lives. They make governments more responsive and cities more livable. During the COVID-19 crisis, smart tools like drones and thermal scanners helped enforce health measures effectively.
But smart shouldn't mean secret. And safety shouldn't come at the cost of silent surveillance.
What we need isn't fewer cameras. We need clear rules around how those cameras are used. We need transparency about where data goes and who benefits from it.
A Smarter Way Forward
Some cities are already showing us how to get it right.
Barcelona has adopted open data governance, giving people more control over how their information is used. Amsterdam publishes a public registry of every algorithm used in city services. These cities are proving that it's possible to be both smart and ethical.
The Middle East can lead too, not just in building cities of the future, but in building trustworthy ones.
Governments here have a unique advantage: the ability to act quickly and at scale. That same top-down model can be used to implement strong data privacy policies, set up independent oversight, and involve citizens in tech decisions before deployment.
Let's Not Wait for a Backlash
The truth is, smart cities have a problem brewing. The more invisible surveillance becomes, the more visible public distrust will be.
We can avoid that. But only if we start having the difficult conversations now.
What's the balance between convenience and consent? How do we ensure tech serves citizens, not just systems?
If smart cities are going to shape our future, we must ask these questions out loud.
The Smarter Way Forward
Technology moves fast. Trust doesn't.
If we want truly smart cities, they can't just watch us. They need to respect us, our privacy, our rights, our role in shaping the urban future.
Because the smartest cities won't just be data-driven.
They'll be people-powered.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arabian Post
a day ago
- Arabian Post
GWM Brazil Plant Officially Opens with President Lula in Attendance
Iracemápolis, São Paulo – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 August 2025 – In the early hours of August 16 (Beijing time), GWM's Brazil plant officially commenced operations, marked by a grand ceremony for the rollout of its first vehicle, the HAVAL H6 GT. The plant, located in Iracemápolis, São Paulo, was acquired from Daimler Group and has since been upgraded into an intelligent manufacturing base. As GWM's third full-process vehicle manufacturing center overseas, it carries the core mission of serving the Latin American market and acts as a key hub linking Europe, Asia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. This milestone not only advances GWM's globalization in Latin America but also sets an example of China's high-quality automotive expansion, showcasing innovative collaboration between the Chinese and Brazilian auto industries. GWM Brazil Plant officially begins production with the first HAVAL H6 GT rolling off the line At the opening ceremony, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, Chinese Ambassador Zhu Qingqiao, Brazil's Minister of Labor, and other dignitaries joined GWM President Mu Feng, GWM International President Parker Shi, GWM Brazil Region President Zhang Gengshen, and other GWM executives to witness this landmark moment in the company's globalization journey. President Lula personally signed the hood of the first HAVAL H6 GT, marking its final production step before entering the market. After the ceremony, he also posed for photos with factory workers. ADVERTISEMENT In his welcome address, GWM President Mu Feng stated: 'The Brazil plant is not only a strong commitment to the Brazilian market, but also the starting point for building the future together with our Latin American partners. In our global expansion, we adhere to the 'Four New Modernizations': Locally Built, Locally Operated, Globally Cultivated, Supply Chain Integrated. Following international quality standards, we will deliver highly reliable vehicles to the Latin American market.' He further announced that the plant's annual production capacity will gradually increase from 20,000 to 50,000 vehicles, creating over 1,000 direct jobs. Initial models include the HAVAL H9, POER P30, and HAVAL H6, with the H9 and POER P30 scheduled to launch in Brazil this September. Chinese Ambassador Zhu Qingqiao emphasized that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 51 years ago, China and Brazil's comprehensive strategic partnership has continued to deepen, with key areas of cooperation including renewable energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing. He described the Brazil plant as a model of Sino-Brazilian industrial synergy, combining 'Chinese smart manufacturing + Brazilian localization.' He noted that GWM is contributing to economic development and quality job creation in São Paulo and Brazil, and expressed hope for further collaboration in clean energy and digital technology to provide a 'China-Brazil solution' for global climate governance. In his speech, President Lula stressed: 'The GWM Brazil plant is very important for Brazil's national industry. Its inauguration shows that Brazil has the capability to acquire advanced technology and produce vehicles that can compete with those from any country in the world. This means creating jobs, increasing income, and enhancing professional expertise for Brazilians. We hope GWM will make Brazil its production base in Latin America. The Brazilian government stands ready to support businesses and welcomes more Chinese companies to invest here.' Brazilian Vice President Alckmin, the Minister of Labor, and the Mayor of Iracemápolis also gave speeches, jointly opening a new chapter for GWM in Latin America. Guests at the ceremony praised GWM's rapid growth and contributions to Brazil's automotive market and expressed confidence in the company's ability to further drive innovation and transformation in the industry. During the event, the Great Place to Work Institute awarded GWM Brazil the 'Great Place To Work' (GPTW) honor. In addition, GWM announced a donation of 500,000 reais to local schools in Iracemápolis to help improve educational facilities. Located in Iracemápolis, São Paulo, the GWM Brazil plant covers a total area of 1.2 million square meters, with 94,000 square meters of built-up area. It houses welding workshops, robotic painting lines, assembly lines, energy and equipment facilities, and logistics supply systems. With an initial annual production capacity of 50,000 vehicles, the plant is expected to create 1,000 jobs by the end of this year. Initial models will include the HAVAL H9, POER P30, and the HAVAL H6 series. The plant also supports flexible production of multiple energy types, including hybrid (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and diesel. ADVERTISEMENT Since entering the Brazilian market in 2021, GWM has reached annual sales of 29,000 units within just three years, ranking 14th in the market. In the first half of this year, GWM sold over 15,700 vehicles in Brazil, up 19.8% year-on-year—17 percentage points above the industry average—demonstrating the company's confidence and determination to expand overseas and compete globally. Rooted in Brazil, expanding across Latin America, and reaching the world, GWM will continue to invest in Brazil, focusing on quality jobs, technological leadership, and R&D. The opening of the Brazil plant marks a new chapter in Chinese automotive globalization. With this plant, GWM will strengthen localized smart manufacturing, deepen its presence in Latin America, and bring its products and services to more global markets. Hashtag: #GWM The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Dubai Eye
a day ago
- Dubai Eye
Trump-Putin summit ends with no ceasefire in Ukraine war
A highly anticipated summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin yielded no agreement to resolve or pause Moscow's war in Ukraine, although both leaders described the talks as productive before heading home. During a brief appearance before the media following Friday's nearly three-hour meeting in Alaska, the two leaders said they had made progress on unspecified issues. But they offered no details and took no questions, with the normally loquacious Trump ignoring shouted questions from reporters. "We've made some headway," Trump said, standing in front of a backdrop that read, "Pursuing Peace." "There's no deal until there's a deal," he added. The talks did not initially appear to have produced meaningful steps toward a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine, the deadliest conflict in Europe in 80 years, a goal Trump had set ahead of the summit. But simply sitting down face-to-face with the US president represented a victory for Putin, who had been ostracized by Western leaders since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Following the summit, Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity that he would hold off on imposing tariffs on China for buying Russian oil after making progress with Putin. He did not mention India, another major buyer of Russian crude, which has been slapped with a total 50 per cent tariff on US imports that includes a 25 per cent penalty for the imports from Russia. "Because of what happened today, I think I don't have to think about that now," Trump said of Chinese tariffs. "I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks or something, but we don't have to think about that right now." Trump has threatened sanctions on Moscow as well but has thus far not followed through, even after Putin ignored a Trump-imposed ceasefire deadline earlier this month. In the Fox News interview, Trump also suggested a meeting would now be set up between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which he might also attend. He gave no further details on who was organizing the meeting or when it might be. Putin made no mention of meeting Zelenskyy when speaking to reporters earlier. He said he expected Ukraine and its European allies to accept the results of the US-Russia negotiation constructively and not try to "disrupt the emerging progress." He also repeated Moscow's long-held position that what Russia claims to be the "root causes" of the conflict must be eliminated to reach a long-term peace, a sign he remains resistant to a ceasefire. There was no immediate reaction from Kyiv to the summit, the first meeting between Putin and a US president since the war began. 'GOTTA MAKE A DEAL' Trump signaled that he discussed potential land swaps and security guarantees for Ukraine with Putin, telling Hannity: "I think those are points that we negotiated, and those are points that we largely have agreed on." "I think we're pretty close to a deal," he said, adding: "Ukraine has to agree to it. Maybe they'll say no." When asked by Hannity what he would advise Zelenskiy, Trump said, "Gotta make a deal." "Look, Russia is a very big power, and they're not," Trump added. The war has killed or injured well over a million people from both sides, including thousands of mostly Ukrainian civilians, according to analysts. Zelenskyy has ruled out formally handing Moscow any territory and is also seeking a security guarantee backed by the United States. Trump said he would call Zelenskyy and NATO leaders to update them on the Alaska talks. Trump was due to arrive back in Washington early on Saturday morning. As the two leaders were talking, the war raged on, with most eastern Ukrainian regions under air raid alerts. Governors of Russia's Rostov and Bryansk regions reported that some of their territories were under Ukrainian drone attacks. Russia's air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 29 Ukrainian drones overnight over various Russian regions, including 10 downed over the Rostov region, RIA agency reported on Saturday, citing the Russian defense ministry. Ukraine's Air Force said frontline territories in the Sumy, Donetsk, Chernihiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions were targeted in overnight strikes by Russia. Ukrainian air defense units destroyed 61 of the 85 drones launched, it said. The anticlimactic end to the closely watched summit was in stark contrast to the pomp and circumstance with which it began. When Putin arrived at an Air Force base in Alaska, a red carpet awaited him, where Trump greeted the Russian president warmly as US military aircraft flew overhead. Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court, accused of the war crime of deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine. Russia denies the allegations, and the Kremlin has dismissed the ICC warrant as null and void. Russia and the United States are not members of the court. 'NEXT TIME IN MOSCOW' Zelenskyy, who was not invited to Alaska, and his European allies had feared Trump might sell out Ukraine by essentially freezing the conflict and recognising - if only informally - Russian control over one-fifth of Ukraine. Trump had sought to assuage such concerns on Friday ahead of the talks, saying he would let Ukraine decide on any possible territorial concessions. Asked what would make the meeting a success, he told reporters: "I want to see a ceasefire rapidly...I'm not going to be happy if it's not today...I want the killing to stop." The meeting also included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Trump's special envoy to Russia, Steve Witkoff; Russian foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov; and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Trump, who said during his presidential campaign that he would end the Ukraine war within 24 hours, conceded on Thursday it had proven a tougher task than he had expected. He had said if Friday's talks went well, quickly arranging a second, three-way summit with Zelenskyy would be more important than his encounter with Putin. Trump ended his remarks on Friday by telling Putin, "I'd like to thank you very much, and we'll speak to you very soon and probably see you again very soon." "Next time in Moscow," a smiling Putin responded in English. Trump said he might "get a little heat on that one" but that he could "possibly see it happening.". Zelenskyy said ahead of Friday's summit that the meeting should open the way for a "just peace" and three-way talks that included him, but added that Russia was continuing to wage war. "It's time to end the war, and the necessary steps must be taken by Russia. We are counting on America," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram.
Arabian Post
a day ago
- Arabian Post
US Government Eyes Stake in Intel Amid Chip Manufacturing Push
The U. S. government is reportedly negotiating a potential stake in semiconductor giant Intel, as part of efforts to bolster the nation's chip manufacturing capabilities. According to sources familiar with the matter, the deal could be a significant move in Washington's ongoing strategy to strengthen domestic manufacturing of critical technologies, particularly semiconductors. Intel has been facing mounting challenges in the competitive semiconductor industry, with delays in its manufacturing projects, including the much-anticipated Ohio chip factory. The U. S. government's interest in taking an equity stake in the company signals a broader push to reduce dependency on foreign chip production, especially from Asia, and ensure the security of critical supply chains. This move is seen as part of a strategic initiative to revitalise America's technological leadership and secure its position in global markets. Intel's Ohio facility, which is poised to become one of the largest semiconductor manufacturing plants in the world, has faced delays partly due to supply chain disruptions and increasing construction costs. The involvement of the U. S. government could provide much-needed capital and oversight, accelerating the development of the plant and helping Intel compete more effectively with rival manufacturers, particularly Taiwan's TSMC and South Korea's Samsung, who have been expanding their presence in the U. S. market. ADVERTISEMENT The discussions come on the heels of significant policy shifts, such as the CHIPS Act, passed by Congress in 2022, which aims to incentivise semiconductor manufacturing on American soil. The act includes $52 billion in subsidies for semiconductor companies to develop and expand production facilities within the United States. By taking a stake in Intel, the government would not only provide financial support but could also play a role in shaping the company's long-term strategy in an increasingly geopolitical semiconductor landscape. Intel's shift towards increasing domestic production comes at a time when geopolitical tensions and supply chain issues have exposed vulnerabilities in global chip supply chains. These concerns were particularly underscored during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to widespread shortages and underscored the need for diversified production capabilities. As the U. S. government navigates this complex environment, its stake in Intel could also be seen as an effort to counter China's rising influence in the semiconductor space, which is a growing concern for U. S. policymakers. For Intel, the U. S. government's involvement could provide the company with a much-needed financial cushion to accelerate its plans. With Intel's long-term ambitions to manufacture leading-edge chips in the U. S., this partnership could be a critical factor in its race to catch up with competitors who have already established more advanced production processes. Industry experts suggest that the collaboration between the government and Intel could reshape the dynamics of semiconductor production in the U. S. The push for a self-sufficient chip supply chain could lead to a wave of investment in U. S.-based manufacturing plants, potentially creating thousands of jobs and boosting local economies. The implications for the broader tech sector are also significant, as the development of these high-tech manufacturing plants could drive further innovation and research in the field of semiconductor design and fabrication. However, some analysts caution that while the partnership could provide substantial benefits, it also comes with risks. The involvement of the government in a private company could lead to concerns about political interference in business decisions, especially in an industry as vital to national security as semiconductor manufacturing. Critics argue that the focus should be on creating an environment that encourages private sector growth without overt government involvement. As discussions continue, it remains unclear how much of a stake the U. S. government would take in Intel and the specific terms of the agreement. However, the move is widely seen as part of a broader strategy to revitalise the U. S. semiconductor industry and ensure that it is equipped to meet the growing demand for chips in everything from consumer electronics to military technology.
