Eye in the sky: Kazakhstan rolls out China-style behavior tracking

Kazakhstan is rolling out a nationwide video surveillance system powered by artificial intelligence that will be used to detect aggressive behavior, fights and disorderly conduct.

The initiative was announced by Aida Balayeva, Kazakhstan’s minister of culture and information, in response to a request from Kudaibergen Beksultanov, a member of Parliament.

According to Balayeva, more than 43,000 cameras across the country are already equipped with AI capabilities. The system can identify not only traffic violations in real time, but also littering, crowd gatherings and conflicts.

Lawmakers push for stricter public behavior standards

The discussion followed a proposal by Beksultanov to use Sergek surveillance cameras to help combat profanity and aggressive behavior in public spaces.

The lawmaker argued that cultural standards in Kazakhstan’s regions should directly affect the performance ratings of akims, the country’s regional and city governors.

«We must create an environment where being cultured is prestigious, and being rude is socially and economically disadvantageous,» Beksultanov said.

«Rudeness and aggression are becoming commonplace, undermining the foundations of our cultural code,» he added.

Read also: Fighting the ‘dedovshchina’: AI cameras monitor military life for safety.