Program “Ojos que te Cuidan” Aims for 150,000 Surveillance Devices
The Mexico City government has initiated the installation of 30,400 new surveillance cameras and 15,200 intelligent kiosks as part of a $35.5 million investment in surveillance infrastructure.
Clara Brugada Molina’s Commitment to City Safety
During an event at the Center for Command, Control, Computing, Communications and Citizen Contact (C5), Head of Government Clara Brugada Molina stated, “We are fulfilling our commitment to bring security to every corner of the city, prioritizing areas that have historically been neglected.”
“Ojos que te Cuidan” Program Details
The “Ojos que te Cuidan” program aims to position Mexico City as the city with the most surveillance cameras in America, reaching a total of 113,814 active devices in public spaces across the capital.
The implementation strategy covers all 16 boroughs, focusing on peripheral and high-crime areas. Each kiosk includes panic buttons directly connected to nearby command centers, self-diagnostic systems alerting about technical failures, and visual and auditory alert towers for emergencies.
Expansion to Metro System
A second phase of equipment will target the Metro system, as part of the commitment to secure high-traffic public spaces. “The Metro is also a public space and deserves the same protection as the rest of the city,” Brugada Molina affirmed.
Citizen Participation Component
The program includes a citizen participation component that seeks to integrate 50,000 private cameras through collaboration agreements. The ultimate goal is to create a joint network of over 150,000 devices surpassing the surveillance systems in cities like London or Seoul.
The government does not aim to take control of private cameras; instead, it seeks temporary and voluntary image cession when authorities require them for investigations. “This does not mean that citizens’ cameras become part of the C5 strategy; rather, the strategy is built with their camera when needed.”
Unique Hybrid System
Salvador Guerrero Chiprés, C5 General Coordinator, explained, “We collaborated with national providers to develop a unique-in-the-world hybrid system that combines fixed cameras with 360-degree mobile devices, featuring zoom, pan, and night vision capabilities at the same cost as previous conventional systems.”
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main goal of this investment? The primary objective is to enhance security across Mexico City by installing new surveillance cameras and intelligent kiosks.
- Who is Clara Brugada Molina, and why is she relevant? Clara Brugada Molina is the Head of Government for Mexico City. She has committed to bringing security to every corner of the city, prioritizing historically neglected areas.
- What is the “Ojos que te Cuidan” program? It’s a city-wide surveillance initiative aiming to position Mexico City as the American capital with the most surveillance cameras, totaling 113,814 active devices in public spaces.
- How does the program involve private cameras? The program seeks temporary and voluntary image cession from private camera owners when authorities require them for investigations.
- What makes the surveillance system unique? Mexico City has developed a hybrid system combining fixed cameras with 360-degree mobile devices, offering zoom, pan, and night vision capabilities at the same cost as previous conventional systems.