Alvoria's New 'Safety Billboards' Aim to Deter Crime

Adrian Moreau
Dec 1, 2024
2 min read

December 1, 2024

By Adrian Moreau, National Affairs Correspondent

In an effort to tackle rising urban crime rates, Alvoria’s city government has rolled out its newest public safety initiative: Adaptive Safety Billboards (ASBs). These massive digital screens, are installed across every major intersection in the capital, with messages like “Don’t Walk Alone After Dark” and “Report Suspicious Activity Immediately.” And alongside this, are targeted advertisements for everything from home locks to energy drinks that claim to keep you alert during your late-night commutes. What sets the ASBs apart is their cutting-edge surveillance technology, which uses algorithmic facial recognition, thermal imaging, and predictive algorithms to monitor pedestrians in real-time. The screens adapt their messaging based on who’s nearby. If a group of teenagers lingers too long, the billboard might flash “Loitering Is a Crime”, followed by a cheerful ad for college prep services. For lone walkers, it might suggest purchasing a personal defense drone, of course its available at a special discount for anyone who scans the conveniently displayed QR code.

Alvoria’s Adaptive Safety Billboards light up the city as they revolutionize

public safety and advertising (Marco Leno, Glint Global Holdings Media Division)

At a press briefing, Alvoria’s mayor praised the program as a "perfect union" "they’re our guardians,” he added while standing beneath a 50-foot-tall screen displaying his own face with the slogan: “Your Safety Is Our Priority.” Early reports suggest the billboards are already having an impact. Crime rates in the pilot areas have dropped by an impressive 15%, though some note that this might be due to increased patrols by private security firms the just happened at the same time as the rollout. “I feel safer,” said Elena Morales, an account manager who commutes daily through Alvoria’s Central District. “The billboards remind me that someone is always watching out for me. Plus, I bought this amazing smart pepper spray after seeing an ad on one last week. It’s really a win-win.”

For now, the ASBs are here to stay, and many citizens are already finding ways to integrate them into their daily lives. Some have taken to wearing reflective clothing to see how the billboards respond, while others test the systems by purposely triggering the anti-loitering alerts—a trend that’s gone viral on social media under the hashtag #BillboardBallet. The city government plans to expand the ASB program next year, with installations planned for residential areas and schools. “If we can teach children to see the billboards as a friend, not a foe, we’re setting them up for a brighter, safer future,” said the mayor.