Torre Centinela (or Sentinel Tower in English), a $200 million, 20-story surveillance tower, is under construction in Mexico’s Chihuahua State, raising concerns among privacy advocates and locals.
The tower, part of the “Plataforma Centinela” project, will feature thousands of AI-equipped cameras and drones.
“With tentacles reaching into 13 Mexican cities and a data pipeline that will channel intelligence all the way to Austin, Texas, the project will be unlike anything seen before along the US-Mexico border,” the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) wrote in a recent report.
Local media reports indicate that Gilberto Loya Chávez, the secretary of public security in Chihuahua, has asked businesses like gas stations and even private citizens to integrate their camera feeds into the surveillance system.
Describing the project as “an unprecedented expansion of the surveillance state in Latin America,” the EFF’s report warned that it threatens privacy and would lead to cities where residents “can no longer move freely” and are constantly monitored and tracked.
Unprecedented Surveillance Initiative
The Sentinel Tower will serve as the central node of an AI-enhanced surveillance system, and it will include invasive technology like facial recognition and license plate readers. In total, it will have will have:
- 1,791 automated license plate readers
- 4,800 fixed cameras
- 3,065 pan-tilt-zoom cameras
- 2,000 tablets for field officers
- 102 security arches
- 40 mobile video surveillance trailers
A memorandum signed last year between Chihuahua and Texas revealed that “the State of Chihuahua is incorporating technologies such as drones to patrol the border, AI databases connected to the driver license registry, and biometric filters to assist the capture of cartel leaders.”
“The concept combines hardware, software, and data transfer programs among the U.S. and several countries, including Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Mexico,” Giandana Gigena, a policy analyst at advocacy group Access Now, told The Record.
Seguritech, a giant corporation, is behind the construction of Plataforma Centinela, the EFF noted. The company will retain ownership of all assets related to the project, including Torre Centinela, until August 2027.
Seguritech’s practices have come under scrutiny over the years, with critics highlighting inflated prices, use of obsolete equipment, and technical failures. Despite the company’s controversial history, Chihuahua’s governor, Maru Campos, sealed a no-bid contract with Seguritech.
Concerns About Privacy Violations
Regional newspapers and advocacy groups, such as Norte Digital and Frente Político Ciudadano para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos (FPCDDH), have voiced concerns about the Torre Centinela project. They underline its high potential for waste and misuse.
Victor M. Quintana, a member of FPCDDH, told the EFF that the project overlooks the social causes of crime, concentrating solely on situational prevention.
Chihuahua has also tightly controlled information about the tower, leaving numerous public record requests unanswered. The State Congress has also turned down proposals to make details of the project public.
In an email to VPNOverview, the EFF’s director of investigations, Dave Mass, said Texas has also been mum about their role in the project.
“Corruption and criminal infiltration of law enforcement is a well-known problem in Mexico, and we imagine this project will be as vulnerable as anything else,” Mass said.
Privacy in the Age of Invasive Surveillance
Invasive surveillance is quickly becoming the norm, both online and offline. Earlier this year, France announced plans to use AI video surveillance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
To protect your privacy, we strongly recommend staying informed on local surveillance projects and learning about surveillance tools like facial recognition technology. It’s also important to take steps to protect your privacy where possible, like using a VPN to hide what you’re doing online when using public Wi-Fi.
Additionally, engage with local representatives about surveillance concerns and familiarize yourself with your privacy rights. Limit your exposure to high-surveillance zones when possible, connect with community groups for collective action, and share insights with others to foster community-wide awareness.
While there are benefits of surveillance, it shouldn’t compromise individual privacy. You may find our article on privacy risks in smart cities eye-opening.
Watch the video below for more details about the Sentinel Tower project:
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