Journalist Klodiana Lala has exposed new details about the “Smart City” project, raising serious concerns about the lack of transparency and the risk of privacy violations. According to Lala, the project has not been widely reported in the media, while she has secured an email that the Education Directorate sent to the heads of about 20 schools in Tirana, where they are asked to expect experts from a foreign company and police representatives to closely monitor the camera systems or install new ones.
The journalist said on the show 'This Week' on News24 that the “Smart City” project is an agreement between the Albanian government and the United Arab Emirates, carried out, according to her, in a complete lack of transparency. She also raised doubts about the selected company “LTD”, which she claims has been mentioned in international reports for possible links with Chinese companies and accusations of human rights violations. Another worrying element, according to Lala, is the fact that so far there has been no reaction from the Albanian Ministry of Interior, while adding that a deputy minister has been removed from office after refusing to sign the agreement. The journalist raised strong questions about data security and privacy, warning that the installation of cameras in schools could lead to 24/7 filming of children, without a clear guarantee of where this footage will be stored and how it will be used. She highlighted the risk that this data could be misused for blackmail or to harm individuals.
In this context, Lala also mentioned the statements of Arben Ahmetaj, who claimed that the agreement was lobbied by Ergys Agasi, a name that, according to her, has been linked by SPAK to criminal activities. Another concern raised is the cost of the project, which according to Lala has doubled from 60 million to 120 million dollars, through a government decision, without a public explanation for this increase. In conclusion, the journalist highlighted the lack of information for parents and the general public, demanding full transparency on how the thousands of film footage expected to be recorded by this system will be managed and protected.
"It has not been widely discussed in the media. I have obtained an email that the Education Directorate has sent to the heads of 20 schools in Tirana, asking them to wait for or accept some LTD experts from the United Arab Emirates and police representatives, to closely monitor whether there is such a camera system or to install them. Smart City is an agreement concluded in a complete lack of transparency between the Albanian and United Arab Emirates governments. The LTD company selected has suspicions according to the American Congress that it is linked to a Chinese company and is accused of violating human rights. This makes it worrying. So far there has been no reaction from the Ministry of Interior, which should remove this issue. A deputy minister has left after refusing to sign this agreement. What should worry us is what these agreements are, the connections they have. Our children will be filmed 24/7. We do not know where this footage will go. Could it be used to harm people, or to attack them them. Mr. Ahmetaj has denounced that the agreement was lobbied by Ergys Agasi. But who is Ergys Agasi? According to SPAK, he is the head of a criminal group that ordered the kidnapping of rival businessmen to give up on ANA tenders. He is the same person who filmed high-ranking officials in his office. Can we accept a company that is accused of suspicious connections? How will this data be stored? It must be clear how it will be administered. In Britain, they notify you several times that you may be filmed, but there are clear rules on how this footage is administered. There is no reaction from them, they have not requested consultations. Another concern is the doubling of the cost. From 60 million dollars, the cost is 120 million dollars. A change was made with the Council of Ministers, without any explanation as to how the costs increased and doubled. We have no reaction and explanation. There is no information that has been given to parents or persons interested in this issue. We do not know "What will happen with thousands of footage? Footage can be misused, used for blackmail, misused to harm a particular child," she said.
