In the order published in the Diário da República, the Secretary of State for Internal Administration approves the “installation and operation of a video surveillance system, consisting of 19 cameras” in Ponta Delgada under the “terms proposed by the Public Security Police and in accordance with the recommendations issued by the National Data Protection Commission”.

“The video surveillance system must be operated in a way that guarantees the effective safeguarding of privacy and security, fully complying with applicable legal provisions”, says the document.

In October 2022, the mayor of Ponta Delgada, Pedro Nascimento Cabral, revealed that the municipality intended to install a video monitoring system due to insecurity, which he recognised as a “serious problem” in the municipality.

The request was formalised on November 3, 2023, after a protocol between the city hall and the Public Security Police, which involved the installation of 12 video surveillance cameras in the historic center of the Azorean city.

In the order, the Government establishes the conditions for the implementation of video surveillance, such as the “placement of masks in all places where privacy must be preserved, namely windows, balconies and doors of residential buildings, hotel buildings or similar”.

The system's “encryption key” must be changed every six months and “alert mechanisms must be created in case of attempts at unauthorized access or tampering with equipment”.

The video surveillance system is authorised for a period of three years, and a “renewal request may be made upon proof of maintenance of the grounds invoked for authorization” up to 60 days before the deadline expires.

On August 13, the Ponta Delgada City Council revealed that the installation of the video monitoring system in the historic center was awaiting the opinion of the National Data Protection Commission, asking for a “quick response” to “complete the process”.