The Dark Side of Cape Town’s "Smart City" Ambitions
Cape Town’s newly unveiled data strategy has been touted as a revolutionary move towards a more efficient and transparent government. But at what cost? The city’s mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, is pushing for a "data-driven" approach to urban planning, but critics are warning that this could lead to a loss of autonomy and a further widening of the gap between the city’s haves and have-nots.
The strategy, which promises to "embed the intelligent and strategic use of data into everything that we do," raises questions about the role of technology in shaping the city’s future. While it’s true that data analytics can help optimize resource allocation and improve service delivery, it’s also a recipe for further gentrification and displacement of marginalized communities.
The city’s reliance on private data companies and consultants to develop its spatial economic models and cost-benefit analysis tools is a red flag. This raises concerns about the potential for data exploitation and the lack of transparency in the city’s decision-making processes.
Moreover, the emphasis on "smart city" technology could lead to a reliance on surveillance and monitoring of citizens, rather than empowering them to take control of their own lives. The city’s use of artificial intelligence and machine learning tools, while touted as a means of improving efficiency, could also perpetuate systemic biases and exacerbate existing social and economic inequalities.
As Hill-Lewis said, "I am excited to see where this strategy document leads us." But what about the people who will be left behind in the wake of this technological revolution? The city’s data strategy may be "a public good," but it’s a public good that benefits the privileged few at the expense of the many.
Read: Could Cape Town become Africa’s Silicon Valley? (But at what cost to its people?)
Follow: @TechCentralCoZa for more on Cape Town’s "smart city" ambitions and the potential consequences for its citizens.
