Manilva Town Hall has taken a historic step in security to keep the municipality clean. An unprecedented technological leap for the town, with the installation of fake surveillance cameras in various areas of the municipality. At last those smart cameras with number plate readers, which have even been announced at council meetings, have arrived.
The Town Hall proudly announced it on its social media, where it reports the “installation of surveillance cameras at the bin points” to prevent illegal dumping and improve cleanliness. A solemn, institutional and reassuring message… except for one small detail: the cameras are fake.
- They do not record.
- They are not connected.
- They have no real wiring.
- They serve no purpose.
But they certainly look great hung from street lamps with cable ties, which amounts to a considerable step towards having “Aliexpress security.” We do not know for the moment whether these security improvements will be accompanied by mannequins dressed as police officers in the most problematic parts of the municipality, to solve the current problem of continual thefts in the various businesses.
Shop-window security
According to the PSOE of Manilva, the devices installed are fake cameras sold online for 8.50 euros, the kind that come with a “Smile, you’re on camera” sticker to reinforce the fantasy.
The official aim, according to the Town Hall, is to “reduce anti-social behaviour”. To achieve this, it has opted for a revolutionary technique: making residents believe they are being filmed, even though it is false.
The PSOE of Manilva was quick to criticise this “security improvement” in a statement on its social media with the following text:
———————————–
Installing cameras on public roads is not a game. It is regulated by law and requires:
- Authorisation from the Government Delegation for any surveillance system in public spaces.
- Exclusive competence of the police to manage cameras on the street.
- Compliance with the Organic Law on Data Protection (LOPDGDD) and with video surveillance regulations.
- Correct signage and real means of recording, not imitations.
- This is not security: it is propaganda.
- This is not surveillance: it is manipulation.
- This is not management: it is taking a whole municipality for fools.
