ARTICLES / RESEARCH PAPER
State Surveillance in Serbia: Examining the Role of Chinese-Supplied Surveillance Cameras
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Legal Sciences, "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati, Romania
Submission date: 2025-11-03
Final revision date: 2025-11-25
Acceptance date: 2025-11-25
Publication date: 2025-11-25
Corresponding author
Tal Pavel
Legal Sciences, "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati, Galaţi, Romania
dot.pl 2025;(I)
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ABSTRACT
Objective – To examine Serbia's deployment of Chinese-supplied surveillance technologies and assess the implications for democracy, privacy, and civil liberties in the context of Serbia's deteriorating freedom indices and EU accession aspirations.
Goal – To analyse the technological cooperation between China and Serbia in surveillance infrastructure, evaluate the transparency and accountability of Serbian institutions in implementing these systems, review the legal framework governing digital surveillance, and assess local and international responses to this deployment.
Methodology – This study employs a qualitative research approach based on document analysis from diverse, highly reliable sources. The methodology prioritises relevance, reliability, and diversity, integrating academic publications, reports from established human rights organisations, investigative journalism, and official government documents. The 41 sources were selected to ensure comprehensive coverage of technological, legal, political, and social dimensions of surveillance deployment in Serbia.
Findings – The research reveals that Serbia has significantly expanded its state surveillance capabilities through a strategic partnership with China, particularly with Huawei, deploying thousands of cameras equipped with facial and license plate recognition across major cities. The findings demonstrate a troubling lack of transparency and accountability, with agreements classified as confidential and explicit references to Chinese involvement deliberately obscured. Serbia's legal framework for digital surveillance remains underdeveloped, lacking adequate oversight mechanisms and privacy protections. Locally, concerns persist about the political misuse of surveillance for control rather than public safety. Internationally, the EU has expressed alarm over Chinese technological penetration and its implications for Serbia's EU accession goals.
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