Recently, in Yuqu County, Shanxi Province, a roadside pole was found covered with a dense array of cameras, sparking discussions online as netizens expressed concerns about potential excessive surveillance and violation monitoring.
In a video shared by a netizen, the arm of the roadside pole was equipped with numerous cameras and lighting devices, with an estimated total of nearly 10 cameras facing both directions, creating a somewhat desolate scene around the pole.
According to reports from Jiemu News, the individual who shared the video mentioned that a few days ago, when passing by a section of a national highway in Yuqu County, they witnessed this unusual sight. Given that this location is far from urban areas, the dense concentration of cameras struck them as quite novel.
On January 4th, personnel on duty at a nearby town government mentioned that they were aware of the existence of these cameras, indicating that they were installed by several government departments.
Officials from relevant departments in Yuqu County stated that the section of road where this incident occurred is near the provincial border, and the cameras belong to various departments including traffic police and public security bureaus, and are used for routine monitoring, surveillance, and traffic measurement purposes. “These cameras include both dual-directional cameras, dome cameras, as well as lighting fixtures, making the setup appear quite densely packed.”
The aforementioned officials explained that in general, rural national and provincial roads tend to see higher traffic volume from larger vehicles, hence the need for increased monitoring. While the cameras are in use, they are not intended for excessive monitoring of traffic violations.