Smart City Surveillance in Algeria

This report critically examines the current state of public space surveillance practices in Algeria, tracing their trajectory from colonial informant networks and repressive legal frameworks to the contemporary integration of advanced digital surveillance technologies, notably within the smart city projects and their associated initiatives. It addresses the following principal research questions: To what extent have digital surveillance technologies been integrated into Algeria’s public spaces, particularly through smart city projects? How does Algeria’s current legal and regulatory framework govern the acquisition, deployment, and oversight of these surveillance systems? What roles do key actors play in shaping the smart city surveillance landscape? And lastly, how do these surveillance practices, and their underlying governance framework affect citizens’ digital rights?

By examining these questions, the report aims to present a digital-rights focused understanding of the implications of public space surveillance practices in Algeria.