The paradox of safety within data-driven smart cities

Cities that have already embraced data-driven operations are reported to be experiencing a streak of safety on different dimensions as incidences are reported in real-time and appropriate actions taken in time. However, the aspect of data-driven smart cities being save is seen as a paradox, as there exists numerous concerns on how the security of data, and how it is exposing urban residents to compromise on their privacy, and the security of their private data. These concerns are particularly exacerbated by the active involvement of the private entities like the big tech companies that though they have huge capacities to handle massive data and has been always been contracted to offer data services for many local governments, their main agendas are profit maximization. This open a Pandora Box explored in this chapter, especially on whether such entities would guarantee the safety of both the urban fabrics as well as that of massive and sensitive data under their care.