TECHNOLOGY, SMART CITIES AND CRIME: NEW PATHS FOR PUBLIC SECURITY

Abstract

This article analyzes the relationship between smart cities, public security, and human rights, proposing a critical reflection on the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the construction of safer, more inclusive, and socially integrated urban environments. It is based on the understanding that public security should not be limited to repressive strategies and surveillance mechanisms, but should also encompass subjective dimensions related to the sense of security, urban coexistence, and quality of life. Based on a bibliographic review, the study engages with authors such as Jane Jacobs, Alessandro Baratta, and Eugenio Raúl Zaffaroni. In this context, the article discusses the concept of smart cities and its connection with the “safe cities” model, emphasizing the importance of urban planning, community participation, and violence prevention through urban design. The study also presents Latin American experiences, such as the social urbanism of Medellín and the Espacios de Paz project in Venezuela, demonstrating how urban interventions associated with inclusive public policies can contribute to crime reduction and the strengthening of social cohesion. It concludes that the promotion of urban security requires an integrated approach capable of articulating technology, urbanism, human rights, and citizen participation, overcoming exclusively repressive perspectives and strengthening the construction of more humane, safe, and sustainable cities.