AI Surveillance System in Russia Cuts Down Complaints About Public Services

Artificial intelligence is helping Russian municipalities reduce complaints by automatically identifying issues like full trash bins and broken streetlights.

Russia’s Moscow Region is leveraging artificial intelligence to transform how public services are monitored—and it's working. Over the past two years, the “Clean Territory” initiative has cut complaints related to outdoor communal areas by 28%, according to regional statistics.

The backbone of the program is a smart surveillance system that acts as a tireless inspector. Trained to detect 14 types of issues—from overflowing trash containers to broken lightbulbs—the AI system sends alerts in real time, allowing city workers to respond before residents even notice a problem.

Today, the system includes approximately 67,000 cameras covering 7,700 courtyards and 2,400 waste collection sites across the region. Since the launch of the program, the AI has flagged over 215,000 violations, which were quickly addressed by municipal crews.

While such automated oversight may raise questions in other parts of the world, Russian authorities are positioning the initiative as a blueprint for cleaner, more efficient cities powered by digital tools.