Starting in May, Berlin will begin implementing a new surveillance system: AI-powered 24-hour live video surveillance in so-called “crime-prone areas” (KbOs). Behind this technocratic terminology lies a massive expansion of state surveillance. It starts at Kotti. The pilot program will serve as a test to see how deeply algorithmic control can be embedded in everyday life.
Where and when?
Initially, cameras will be installed at four of the seven officially designated “KBOs”:
• Kottbusser Tor
• Görlitzer Park / Wrangelkiez
• Warschauer Bridge
• Alexanderplatz
The remaining three locations—Rigaer Straße, Hermannplatz / Donaukiez, and Hermannstraße / Neukölln Station—are scheduled to follow after an initial “evaluation phase.” By July 20, 2026, at the latest, “trial operation” will begin at Kottbusser Tor, where the new technology will be tested and evaluated.
What exactly will be installed?
The plan is to install a dense network of high-resolution cameras capable of clearly capturing faces, clothing, objects, and movements even in darkness and poor lighting conditions. The technical requirements:
• Pixel density of at least 250 px/m
• Frame rate of 12.5 fps
• Operating range between 0 and 100,000 lux
• Operating temperature –20°C to +50°C
This enables seamless surveillance, even if rapid movements or obstructed angles limit recognition.
What is this AI able to do?
The Artificial intelligence is designed to recognize people, analyze movements, and “automatically detect” specific scenarios. At a minimum, the system must be able to recognize:
• people who are falling or lying on the ground
• physical altercations such as hitting or kicking.
Desired capabilities include:
- Identifying abandoned objects and tracking the person who left them
- Recognizing weapons and knives
- Detecting attempts to damage fences, gates, and infrastructure objects
- Identifying the attachment, removal, or manipulation of objects on infrastructure
- Recognizing climbing attempts on fences, walls, and barriers
- Detecting throwing motions and classifying thrown objects
- Identifying suspicious activities involving parked bicycles and e-scooters
- Recognizing graffiti and vandalism
Officially, biometric remote identification or automated triggering of measures is „excluded.“ However, the infrastructure that could enable such applications in the future is already being created here.
Filming Locations: Where Exactly Filming Will Take Place
Kottbusser Tor (Phase 1a):
- North side of the subway viaduct up to Reichenberger Str. 176 (including the passageway to Dresdener Str.)
- Safe havens and high-risk areas, particularly those known as drug dealing hotspots
- Subway entrances
- Porches at Adalbertstraße 97/98 and Reichenberger Str. 175/176 (due to areas with limited visibility)
- Coordination with social service providers and the district office to address “socially sensitive concerns”
Warschauer Bridge (Phase 1b):
- Warschauer Street and the bridge area, particularly the northwest sidewalk
- Access routes to the Uber Arena, East Side Mall, UCI Cinema, and the RAW site
- Bicycle parking facility north of the S-Bahn station
Görlitzer Park / Wrangelkiez (Phase 2):
- High-traffic entrances and exits to the park
- Crossings between Reichenberger- and Wrangelkiez
- Areas along the modernized fence installations
Alexanderplatz (Phase 2):
- Specific camera locations will be determined as the project progresses
What happens to the data?
By law, image data must be stored for one month. During this time, it can be analyzed by the authorities. So far, there is very little information available regarding specific access rights, internal control mechanisms, or deletion logs.
