The Indicator of CCTV Success is Winning Elections”: Insights from the Implementation of an Algorithmic Video Surveillance System in Poland

This article explores the emergence and dynamics of institutional collaboration surrounding the implementation of an algorithmic video surveillance system (AVS) in a Polish city, utilizing the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) as a theoretical lens. The study identifies two primary coalitions: the “Safe City,” focused on public safety and crime prevention, and the “Smart City,” which emphasizes technological innovation and city branding. Through qualitative case study method, including in-depth interviews, the research provides an empirical analysis of how cooperation unfolded among actors who are typically reluctant to work together. The paper argues that the system’s success is owed to the convergent belief systems of the coalition’s members. The findings also highlight the role of individual policy entrepreneurs, local authorities, law enforcement, and private contractors in engaging citizens in financing the CCTV system and reducing any opposing voices. Ultimately, the study contributes to understanding the interplay between politics and policy in the context of urban surveillance technology, while calling for further research on the implications of such systems for core components of the “right to the smart city” like privacy and democratic engagement.