Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has unveiled a vision for the country’s internal security, with a major expansion of surveillance technology, including intelligent cameras, drones, and satellite monitoring, alongside the appointment of Albana Koçiu as the country’s first female minister of internal affairs.

The announcement signals a significant increase in the use of technology for public security in Albania, reflecting a broader trend in the Western Balkans of leveraging cameras, drones, and AI to enhance law enforcement and administrative oversight. However, such moves in both Albania and Serbia have raised concerns about privacy and how the data gathered may be used by the authorities. 

Speaking at the presidential palace following the swearing-in of the new cabinet on September 18, Rama said the ministry would move beyond its traditional police-centric role to address a broader range of public safety and administrative challenges, from road safety and school security to fire prevention and territorial monitoring.

“Higher road safety will begin with the deployment of intelligent cameras along major national routes and in urban areas,” Rama said. “School security will be enhanced with video recording systems accessible to both authorities and parents, preventing minor disputes from escalating into violence.”

Rama emphasised the use of aerial surveillance, saying that intelligent drones and satellite systems would be used to monitor Albania’s beaches, rivers, and other public territories in real time. 

“We already have these systems at an advanced stage,” he said, according to a government statement, “but one last component is needed to make any violation recognisable immediately, not periodically.”

The prime minister also outlined plans for the tracking of goods and cybersecurity measures. A new state-owned company, AlbTrace, created through a partnership with a leading United Arab Emirates (UAE) firm, will provide real-time monitoring of imported goods, medical supplies, and fuel, according to Rama.

While promoting technology, Rama stressed it would not replace human responsibility. “Digital tools and artificial intelligence can help, but they cannot replace civic responsibility, education, or the work of teachers and parents,” he said, noting the importance of respect for traffic rules, property, and environmental stewardship.

Koçiu, who takes over as interior minister, will lead the ministry’s transformation to align with European standards. Rama described her appointment as the “logical starting point” for a qualitative shift in internal affairs, saying that the ministry must adopt a 360-degree perspective on public security and administration.

Rama also highlighted longstanding gaps in Albania’s internal affairs infrastructure, including outdated address systems and under-resourced firefighting services, which he said would be modernised alongside the expansion of surveillance capabilities.

The prime minister framed these reforms as part of Albania’s EU accession ambitions, saying that a modernised and technologically advanced internal affairs apparatus was critical to achieving membership by 2030.

However, plans for increase use of security cameras and other forms of surveillance have raised concerns in Albania and other Western Balkan countries. 

Human rights activists objected after the Albanian government signed a memorandum of understanding with a the UAE’s Presight AI on a ‘smart city’ project that would have involved setting up security cameras and other equipments in the country’s major cities.

Serbia was also revealed earlier this year to be expanding a controversial Chinese-made surveillance system, according to documents leaked to RFE/RL. Security cameras have already been installed in Belgrade, where rights activists warn they can be used to identify protesters using biometric facial recognition.