Legislative initiatives on security are often controversial, but when they touch on fundamental human rights, the issues become even more acute. In Ukraine, a scandal is unfolding around draft law No. 11031 on video surveillance in public places.
This document, for in words political expert Volodymyr Yavorskyi, almost completely imitates the standards of China and Russia, but at the same time does not take into account any international norms for the protection of human rights. Such legislation, warns Yavorskyi, may become an obstacle on the path of Ukraine’s integration into the European Union. Is Ukraine ready to change its values in exchange for security, and will this really contribute to security or become a tool of control?
The expert believes that Ukraine risks losing its European vector of development due to attempts to introduce legislation that meets authoritarian standards. Draft law No. 11031, introduced by the Ministry of Internal Affairs with the support of people’s deputies, provides for video surveillance in public places using biometric data. However, it does not contain any provisions that would guarantee the protection of human rights. According to Volodymyr Yavorskyi, this approach is unprecedented, as usually at least minimum standards of human rights are taken into account, even in controversial draft laws. In this case, it is a complete disregard of basic rights.
The draft law gives the right to carry out not only video surveillance, but also automatic face recognition and comparison of information with other state registers. This actually creates the possibility of total control over citizens, allowing the tracking of every person’s movements in public places. Collected data can be used for political pressure, search for compromising material or economic manipulation. Such a tracking system, according to the expert, can become a tool to fight against opponents of the government and business competitors.
“The project creates a system of total surveillance of all citizens, as it allows not only video surveillance, but also the identification of persons by biometric data, automatic data verification with other registers. In fact, it is possible to collect information about the movement of any person in public spaces in a short time and review all this , when needed.This can be used against political opponents, business competitors, seeking compromises, etc.
The conclusion of the Parliamentary Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the European Union: the draft law contradicts the goals of the Association Agreement and Ukraine’s international legal obligations, as well as the acquis (legal system. — ed..) of the EU.
There is no financial justification at all. But this is a separate story, I highly advise journalists to investigate. Even a few years before the war, the Ministry of Internal Affairs starts an experimental project under which it buys Chinese video surveillance equipment for many millions of dollars. “Schem” journalists previously mentioned that Russian equipment was also used. That is, they purchase Chinese cameras and equipment, which, for example, in the USA is prohibited to purchase due to a threat to national security. I am sure there is much to be found in these equipment procedures that are interesting and perhaps even corrupt, it does not contribute to national security. And every next year we will pay millions to implement this system.
Despite all this, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Leonid Tymchenko speaks publicly and promotes the draft law. In my opinion, there are big questions about the professional suitability of people who not only developed it, but also registered it in the parliament, and now they are promoting it, because it exists on a completely different planet and in a different system of values.” – the expert believes.
The expert expressed his personal opinion, which may not coincide with the editorial position.
