We want 1984: Danes yearn for more surveillance

60 percent agree that Big Brother should be given more eyes

The majority of Danes are keen to see more video surveillance in public places in Denmark in order to prevent and fight terrorism.

According to a new YouGov survey, conducted on behalf of Metroxpress newspaper, 60 percent of Danes want to increase the number of surveillance cameras in Denmark.

Right-wing party Dansk Folkeparti (DF) praised the survey’s findings.

“Hopefully, the surveillance can help the police solve the worst crimes out there, and I think the Danes will feel safer,” Peter Kofod Poulsen, DF’s spokesperson for judicial issues, told Metroxpress.

READ MORE: Location of Copenhagen video surveillance cameras to be registered

Gov reservations
Currently, there are about 500,000 surveillance cameras in Denmark – a figure that increases by about 50,000 annually.

When asked whether more cameras should be erected at train stations, streets, squares and other public spaces to percent terrorism in Denmark, 32 percent agreed strongly, 28 percent agreed and 21 percent were ambivalent.

In fact, just 4 percent said they strongly disagreed, while 11 percent disagreed and 4 percent said they didn’t know. But despite the overwhelming support for more Big Brother activities in Denmark, the government is more reserved.

“I think it’s a fundamental right as a citizen in Denmark not to go around being monitored all the time,” Liberal Alliance’s spokesperson on judicial issues, Christina Egholm, told Metroxpress.

“I admit it is a dilemma, but we also need to be wary of intrusion into personal freedom.”

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