How to maintain privacy in a Smart City such as The Line

Smart cities are currently flourishing across the META region, with new designs for the technical marvels being revealed monthly, at conferences around the world.

Recently, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) has revealed its intention to design and build ‘The Line’ city, which layers individuals on top of each other, with constant access to amenities such as retail, banking, transport and more within a fifteen minute walk. The Line City has a width of 200 metres, a height of 500 metres and a length of approximately 170 kilometres.

More than this, as a ‘smart city’, the Line will house the latest in technological advancements for urban living. All movement inside the city can be tracked with either surveillance or biometric technology.

It is more important now than ever that there are clear governance policies which ensure all data collected regarding the movement of civilians is entirely anonymous.

At the Security Middle East Conference 2023, in Riyadh, one topic that will be covered will be that of the development of Smart Cities and their incorporation into the culture of the Middle East.

Cities must be developed with ‘Privacy by design’. The Line must take into account the importance of individual rights, baked into the development of the city from the ground up.