outside mega - events like the FIFA World Cup expect increasingly expensive , high - tech security department . It ’s not just the fiscal incumbrance that ’s become worrisome . When the game are over , the host country will still possess the tech — which may have lasting repercussions for the secrecy of its citizens .
As the Weekly Wonk blogobserves :
So far , Brazil has reportedly spent almost $ 900 million not only on 150,000 or so staff office , but also on US military turkey - administration robots , a clustering of Israeli drones , a British mobile scanner that can discern a plastic three-D printed shooting iron , and ninety Chinese - built X - Ray Inspection systems , not to cite , facial recognition goggles , mellow - tech surveillance whirlybird , and digital instruction centers , and much more besides … .High - tech security gadgetry in spite of appearance and exterior of the stadiums is by no substance unequalled to Brazil . Each new metropolis must copy and excel the security of previous hosts .
But for a host land , the astronomic cost can be deserving it . These events are a fortune for them to secure a good global image , and more problematically , greater certificate capabilities on the home front . As South Africa ’s law minister said in the lead up to that country ’s 2010 World Cup , “ these investments are not only think for the consequence but will continue to assist the constabulary in their offense - fight down initiatives long after the Soccer World Cup is over . ”
Brazil is looking to reach something alike in 2014 . Beyond the drones and robots , surety experts agreed : the most significant security measure development will be the key control centers constructed in each of the twelve World Cup cities , with major ones in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo . Rafael Saliés , in bang of Brazil labor for strategical advisory firm Southern Pulse , told me that each centre is connect to a electronic connection of cameras — up to 4,000 , reckon on the metropolis — which will collate images and data point and relay it to the police force , military , and intelligence activity force .
So whom is this security applied science meant to protect ? And whom are they being protected from ? In Brazil , and in many other server nation , it seems that the security setup is predominantly focused not on subduing an outside foe , but its own people .
Perhaps now is the time to deal building a special , highly - militarized panopticon metropolis for the humans ’s sporting celebrations . FIFA or the IOC could hoof it the bill .
Read the complete essay atWeekly Wonk .
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