Smart city projects take many forms, ranging from the installation of connected street lights to total initiatives such as The Line - the gargantuan and futuristic project led by Saudi Arabia. In one form or another, these initiatives are multiplying, notably guided by objectives of efficiency and improvement of public policies. What they all have in common is that they mobilize numerous digital tools and make use of data to develop and manage public services. Where does Europe stand on this spectrum and how are the models used as levers of influence? 

Two models are unanimously rejected: the one promoted by China and the one implemented by some North American cities. The first subordinates the smart city to security and social control imperatives. It contributes to a constant surveillance of the population. In contrast to this model, which is primarily designed to achieve control and surveillance objectives on behalf of the State, the Californian-inspired North American model is criticized for its massive use of personal data, which is collected and used by private actors. Residents are alarmed by the potential use of these data for commercial purposes and deplore the replacement of democratic deliberations by automated tools.

Therefore, developing a European model requires taking into account these pitfalls and respecting both the challenges related to the protection of privacy and the maintenance of open and democratic procedures. Europe can rely on an ambitious regulatory framework, capable of encouraging the development of smart cities. This framework can also be a real asset for exporting its model to other continents. European initiatives in the field of smart cities are also part of efforts to promote digital sovereignty. In this respect, matters of standardization, interoperability and infrastructure are at the heart of the debate, and while they must be fully integrated into the projects implemented, they are also the subject of fierce international competition.

This publication is also available in French: Ni surveillance, ni consumérisme algorithmique. Vers un modèle européen alternatif pour les villes intelligentes