Palma steps up: More cameras, drones and the big question of privacy

More technology, more order – or just more eyes?

Behind the scenes Palma is upgrading: 13 new cameras, 13 licenses for video analysis and AI, a newly formed drone unit and additional equipment for the police. The numbers are concrete: around €138,718 for the surveillance system, almost €101,120 for uniforms and protective gear. The timeline feels ambitious – two months until the cameras should be in place. The Tramontana blows along the Passeig, a kiosk owner at Plaza de España still sells his first café con leche, and yet a new question hangs in the air: will this make our neighborhoods safer — or only more visible?

The key question

The central question is: will the new technical measures increase the actual safety of people, or will Palma slowly turn into a city with ever more eyes that are not always told who is watching, when and why? This is not a purely technical issue; it concerns trust, rules and everyday life – from the student studying at the station to the shop assistant at the Plaça who prefers to work quietly at night.

What often matters in the debate – but is rarely said

Public discussion quickly focuses on numbers and effects: less noise, less vandalism, faster responses. Less attention is paid to technical and organizational details that determine whether surveillance protects or harms. Who programs the AI algorithms? Where are the recordings stored? How long do they remain accessible? Who is allowed to view them? And: will sensitive areas like private balconies or childcare facilities be technically masked?

There is also the risk of false alarms. Algorithms can detect crowds – but not always the context. A wedding photo, a demonstration, a street theatre performance: all potential “events.” That leads to unnecessary interventions and undermines trust.

Opportunities – if the technology is used wisely

Used correctly, technology can help: faster assistance in incidents, relieved patrols, better traffic management. Drones can be lifesaving in searches or at large events. Cameras at critical points can have a preventive effect if it is clear who has access to the images and how long they are kept.

But these opportunities come with conditions. Transparency, clear rules and independent controls are not additional hurdles—they are prerequisites.

Concrete proposals for Palma

Instead of leaving the debate to technical approval alone, the city administration and police should put the following steps on the agenda immediately:

1. Public usage policy: Publish when and for what purposes cameras and drones may be used. Time limits and purpose binding are important.

2. No facial recognition: As long as the legal and ethical framework is unclear, biometric pattern recognition should be excluded.

3. Data minimisation and retention periods: Store recordings only as long as they are needed for a specific incident. Standard deletion after defined days, exceptions only by court order.

4. Independent oversight: A civil-society body reviews deployments, complaints and technical updates – with an annual report for the public.

5. Transparency portal: A public map shows where cameras are located, which drone flights are planned and which algorithms are used.

6. Local tests and evaluation: Pilot phases of six to twelve months with quantitative and qualitative assessments before the technology is expanded.

Conclusion

In the Parc de Ses Estacions you can hear the footsteps of late strollers and see the streetlights flicker in a sea of palm light. More presence can be beneficial—especially at night. But security must not become a blank check for unlimited surveillance. Palma faces an opportunity: technology can help, but it must be bound to strict rules. Otherwise the city risks becoming, if safer, also less free. A bit of skepticism is healthy; a transparent roadmap would be better.