News digest: Big Brother at school? AI cameras spark debate over privacy

Slovaks tend not to trust world leaders, and Smer and its leader, PM Fico, are also beginning to face a similar issue.

By: sme.sk

Nov 06 2024
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News digest: Big Brother at sc

Hello. Here is the Tuesday, November 5 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

Minister’s plan to put AI cameras in primary schools

Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas) aims to equip nearly 3,000 primary schools with artificial intelligence-powered camera systems by the end of 2026. (Source: Pexels/Jan van der Wolf)

Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok (Hlas) aims to equip nearly 3,000 primary schools with artificial intelligence-powered camera systems by the end of 2026. However, Progressive Slovakia (PS), the country’s main opposition party, has voiced strong objections to the plan.

The AI-enabled cameras would capture images of students’ and teachers’ faces, with an expert claiming that no parental consent is required to collect and store these biometric details in a central database. The AI would also be programmed to assess potential security threats autonomously.

“Every single day, children across Slovakia will be monitored—their comings and goings, daily routines, who they interact with, what they wear, even what they eat,” said PS leader Michal Šimečka. He questioned the ministry’s ability to safeguard this sensitive data, warning of potential breaches by “criminals, paedophiles, the mafia—anyone who could steal massive amounts of data on our children.”

While PS acknowledges that cameras can enhance security, the party argues that the government would need far more than the planned 4-10 cameras per school, for which €62 million is budgeted, with EU funding covering part of the cost. PS has dismissed the plan as an expensive “placebo”, noting that it could take years to install the systems, whereas schools are already facing bomb threats this year.

“Cameras can help deter vandalism and minor crimes, but they don’t need to record our children’s faces to do that,” said PS MP Jaroslav Spišiak, a former police chief.

The party expressed concerns not only about the use of AI but also about the potential deployment of Chinese-made cameras. Prime Minister Robert Fico, several ministers, and representatives from various firms have recently been on an official visit to China.

According to Šutaj Eštok, Progressive Slovakia’s criticism is undermining national security, adding that the city of Bratislava also uses an extensive camera network. However, the system in Bratislava does not use AI. Dealing with an under-resourced police force, Šutaj Eštok has yet to explain how the cameras would prevent bomb threats, instead claiming they will also help combat drugs in schools.

Experts have similarly questioned the effectiveness of the minister’s proposed measures.

48 hours in Martin

The Ethnographic Museum in Martin. (Source: Milena Kiripolská)

Martin once stood as a vital cultural hub for Slovaks, evident in its wealth of museums. However, this city, home to a community of Icelandic medical students, also offers thrilling adventures in the surrounding hills, featuring via ferratas and hiking trails.

EVENT

Young Wine Festival

Young Wine Festival goers. (Source: TASR - Jakub Kotian)

Bratislava’s Young Wine Festival kicks off this weekend (November 8-9) with Archbishop Stanislav Zvolenský blessing the year’s first wines at the Primate’s Palace. The event will feature local wines, culinary delights, and a lively programme, including quizzes, viticulture talks, and concerts. The festivities will spill into various city venues like St. George’s Courtyard, the Old Town Hall, and the Apponyi Palace, with a special walking tour through the Museum of Viticulture.

Note: The event is free. Glass wine glasses will be available for a €5 deposit (cash payments only).

IN OTHER NEWS

On Tuesday, MPs passed an amendment to the Social Insurance Act, aimed at providing citizens with comprehensive information about their future pensions. From 2026, policyholders will receive a document detailing their pension claims, including voluntary savings schemes. By 2028, it will also cover voluntary pension products. Additionally, the amendment reduces the thirteenth pension for retirees living abroad, ensuring the full amount is awarded only to those who have worked in Slovakia for at least 10 years. (SITA)
Coalition MPs want to push through a resolution in parliament in response to the final but unprecedented verdict in the case of President Andrej Kiska (2014-2019). Last week, Kiska was found guilty of tax fraud. Deputy Speaker of Parliament Tibor Gašpar (Smer) stated that the former president should apologise to all citizens of Slovakia for “lying during the election campaign and securing the presidency by deception.” In his view, Kiska should also apologise to all opponents, including PM and Smer party leader Robert Fico, whom Kiska defeated in 2014, as it was an unfair contest. Gašpar is a former police chief facing serious criminal charges for allegedly forming and supporting an organised crime group while serving under previous Smer-led governments. He denies any wrongdoing. (TASR)
Prime Minister Robert Fico’s party, Smer, continues to lose popularity, according to a survey by Ipsos for Denník N. The survey shows Smer at 21.9 percent, placing second behind the opposition party Progressive Slovakia. According to Denník N, which spoke with voters from the ruling coalition (Smer-Hlas-SNS), Fico’s aggressive rhetoric and failure to fulfil pre-election promises are alienating his supporters. Fico’s popularity as a politician is also in decline.
Parliament rejected a motion tabled by the opposition Progressive Slovakia party to condemn the Russian attack on the children’s hospital in Kyiv on Tuesday. The resolution sought to condemn the Russian airstrike on the hospital in Kyiv that occurred on July 8. (TASR)

President Peter Pellegrini expressed his support for efforts to combat hatred against women and girls during a meeting with the outgoing Dutch Ambassador Gabriella Sancisi on Tuesday. The two planted orange tulips in the Presidential Garden as a symbol of friendship and strong ties between Slovakia and the Netherlands. (Source: TASR - Jakub Kotian)

The Slovak parliament has rejected the European Parliament’s attempts to interfere in the rights of European Union member states, referencing the EP’s resolution on the inclusion of the right to abortion in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The Christian Democratic Party (KDH), an opposition party, supported the proposal submitted by a group of coalition MPs. (TASR)
The Open Culture Platform is planning to launch an event called the Slovak Cultural Torch on November 17, a public holiday marking the fall of communism in 1989, members of the platform and the Cultural Strike initiative announced on Tuesday. Through a relay protest, they aim to express their opposition to the Culture Ministry led by Martina Šimkovičová. (TASR)
Slovak Commissioner-designate Maroš Šefčovič’s nomination for the post of European Commissioner for Trade, Economic Security, and Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency was approved on Monday by two key committees of the European Parliament. Based on the committee recommendations, the Conference of Presidents (EP President Roberta Metsola and the chairs of political groups) is set to conduct the final evaluation and close the hearings on November 21. Once the Conference of Presidents has declared all hearings closed, the evaluation letters will be published. The election of the full College of Commissioners by MEPs (by a majority of votes cast, by roll-call) is currently scheduled to take place during the plenary session in Strasbourg from November 25 to 28. (TASR, EP)
According to a survey by NMS Market Research Slovakia, 66 percent of the adult population endorse nuclear energy, and 78 percent anticipate more job opportunities and growth for Slovak companies. Additionally, 69 percent of respondents believe that the construction of new reactors in Slovakia will boost student interest in nuclear technology studies, helping to meet the demand for technical experts to support both current and future investments. Half of Slovaks also support the construction of new nuclear power plants. (SITA)

ŠK Slovan Bratislava recorded their fourth defeat in the group stage of the 2024/2025 UEFA Champions League. After losses to Celtic Glasgow (1-5), Manchester City (0-4), and Girona (0-2), the "blues" were beaten 1-4 by Dinamo Zagreb in the fourth round on Tuesday evening. (Source: TASR - Pavel Neubauer)

WEATHER FOR WEDNESDAY: On Wednesday, expect clear to partly cloudy skies, with fog likely in the early morning and late evening. The lowest overnight temperatures will range from 2°C to -4°C, with valleys possibly dipping to -7°C. During the day, temperatures will reach between 6°C and 13°C. (SHMÚ)

NOVEMBER 6 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Renáta.

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