Russia’s AI Surveillance System Cracks Down on Illegal Street Trading
An intelligent camera network in the Moscow region has already stopped nearly 19,000 violations since January, proving the power of automated enforcement.
Russia’s AI-driven surveillance program, known as Safe Region, is showing measurable success in curbing unauthorized commerce. According to the Moscow Region’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food, neural network-equipped cameras have detected approximately 19,000 violations since the beginning of 2025. A total of 6,617 surveillance units are deployed across the region, all feeding data into the system’s neural engine.
Particularly critical is the system’s ability to flag repeat offenders—roughly 8,000 cases have been recorded so far. All evidence is automatically forwarded to regulatory agencies, enabling rapid response and resolution. In one instance, illegal vending activity was entirely eradicated from a street in the city of Kolomna thanks to Safe Region's rollout.
The ministry emphasized that entrepreneurs can register their operations legally through the national public services portal and be included in the official retail network.
AI surveillance in Russia is not limited to street vending crackdowns. The same system monitors illegal waste dumping, capturing offenders in real time. It also analyzes traffic data: some modules detect congestion and road damage during winter, while others dynamically control traffic lights to reduce accidents and gridlock.
