Smart City Project Launched, Artificial Intelligence and Monitoring System to Enhance Security in Schools and Public Spaces

Implementation of the Smart City project has begun. It is one of the most significant investments in public security. Through artificial intelligence and an integrated monitoring system, it aims to transform the way risks are prevented and managed in Albania.
The first phase includes 20 Tirana schools selected based on student enrollment, population density, and activity levels in surrounding areas. This investment establishes a new security model for students, teachers, parents, and the community by shifting the focus from responding to incidents to preventing them in real time.
The new system uses artificial intelligence to analyze potentially dangerous situations in real time and immediately notify operational monitoring centers. This technology can identify dangerous objects, track vehicles involved in criminal activities, locate wanted persons, and intelligently monitor various violations. It will significantly increase the State Police’s effectiveness in responding to incidents.
At the project presentation, Prime Minister Edi Rama described it as the state’s systemic response to security challenges. He stressed that the project emerged as a concrete reflection of the state’s commitment following the tragic incident at “Fan Noli” School.
Prime Minister Edi Rama’s statement:
Greetings, all!
The tragic death of a student at Fan Noli School shocked the entire country and created a deeply distressing psychological situation. However, it has since been forgotten. The event was subject to extreme politicization and sensationalist journalism, resulting in the development of various versions of the story. Simultaneously, the State Police, as well as the Ministry of Education and the government, were subjected to various rumors, accusations, fabrications, and false claims. These rumors persisted for a long time, causing substantial distress to the family members and the public as a whole.
I have not forgotten, nor have those who exploited, mishandled, and abused that tragedy until the bitter end. I am reminded of it daily by participating in this endeavor, our response to that tragedy.
Even in the most developed countries with the most sophisticated administrative systems, strongest institutional traditions, and longest histories of state-building, there are events that shock the entire public. Therefore, it is impossible to judge a state based on everything that occurs. Nevertheless, a state’s evaluation is contingent upon its reaction to occurrences. In this instance, our response is systemic. In addition to honoring the memory of an innocent victim, it will prevent future consequences for at-risk children. This is because the systemic response will leave behind a sophisticated technological mechanism. This mechanism will elevate prevention to a new level by integrating the unparalleled capabilities of artificial intelligence with the efforts of institutions and individuals.
Today, we initiated an initiative focusing on the core issue of school security. We are starting with 20 schools, which were chosen based on student and population density in the surrounding areas, activity levels in the vicinity, and the necessity of testing this model in these schools to draw the appropriate conclusions before moving on to subsequent phases.
Unlike the constant activity of algorithms and social media, I believe all parents whose children attend these schools should feel reassured and relieved knowing the government is a reliable institution. Naturally, each entity requires its own timeframe.
The minister also addressed the challenges the project has encountered. Obstacles, whether anticipated or unexpected, are inevitable in every project. However, the project is currently becoming a reality and will not halt as it expands across the nation. This will establish a new historic phase in the state’s efforts to improve public security management.
This will ensure that issues resolved solely through human observation and resources will now be addressed with the help of artificial intelligence, not only in schools, but also on roadways and in communities nationwide.
The system has been designed to provide real-time risk information, and the entire project has been built accordingly. It is not just a system for storing information to be accessed after an incident occurs.
For example, the system immediately alerts the monitoring center when a knife is found in a public place, such as a school or street. The knife may be entirely benign, or it may pose a risk.
The system virtually eliminates the possibility that police will be unsure where to direct their response when intervening if a wanted individual has numerous opportunities to hide during the search process.
The system identifies the vehicle before it stops and provides information on its location. This makes it impossible to track vehicles used in criminal acts that were subsequently discovered burned several kilometers away from the crime scene.
Similarly, the issue of pulling vehicles over for inspections, which can still result in inappropriate interactions between police officers and drivers despite advancements, will no longer transpire in the same manner. The system will promptly notify the center when a vehicle that has not fulfilled its obligations exits a parking area and enters the road, thereby indicating its location.
In conjunction with an additional component currently under development that directly connects body cameras to the center, it will be impossible to manipulate body camera records by claiming, for example, “I was here” or “I went there.” This will also help resolve the ethical relationship between police officers and citizens in vehicles or on the street.
There is no such system anywhere in the world, so this does not mean that such incidents will never occur again. Nevertheless, prevention will increase exponentially, security risks will decrease exponentially, and violations will be more easily detected.
In conclusion, I wish to return to the point at which I began. Thanks to the dedication of school security personnel, the State Police, school administrators, and parents’ councils, we have paid closer attention. It is accurate to say that the latter have become more significant due to the substantial increase in parental involvement.
Nevertheless, preventing and rendering extreme incidents impossible has been exceedingly difficult. Fortunately, we have only encountered one additional incident, which occurred outside the school. However, the effort required is such that, despite the amount of effort put forth, the outcome cannot always be deemed entirely adequate.
Currently, this system provides assistance, especially when dealing with the most dangerous adversary in the neighborhood: the algorithm in teenagers’ and minors’ pockets and bags. Additionally, it prioritizes parental engagement.
The Minister of Education will establish a protocol to inform parents through their councils, including the general council. I have encountered one of the most engaged citizens during my tenure in office who serves as the chair of the Parents’ Council. His primary objective is to keep parents informed about the system’s operations rather than about their own child. He also solicits feedback, advice, and requests from parents to enhance and fortify the system’s vigilance.
This is of paramount importance to everyone. Parents must be assured and kept informed at all times.
I would also like to express my gratitude to everyone who contributed to the successful completion of this process. We aspire for the entire Albanian territory to be operational in terms of monitoring within the next 12 months. This will facilitate highly intelligent management of public security, public order, and public peace with God’s help and the tireless efforts of those making this project a reality.
This will provide citizens with a tool they have not had access to until now. Furthermore, we will strive to integrate the Digital Commissariat with this system. The system will give citizens their own inbox and verify their concerns in real time, whether they pertain to illegal parking, unlawful interventions, or other matters.
The system will inevitably be implemented in strategic community areas, on major roads, and in any other location where public interest warrants the deployment of this technology.
Thank you very much to everyone!