The Bondi massacre has raised new concerns about providing adequate security surveillance of public events and the early detection of weapons in public spaces - but these are areas where significant technological advances were made in 2025.
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Despite opportunistic political grandstanding about putting soldiers on the streets and limiting public demonstrations in NSW, smart surveillance technology already allows effective security monitoring without the need for such extreme measures.
Surveillance technology advanced significantly in 2025, driven by rapid improvements in artificial intelligence (AI), sensor integration, and computing power. What distinguishes 2025 is not simply better cameras or more data, but the growing ability of surveillance systems to interpret and act in real time.
Capabilities such as automated weapon detection and anomaly recognition now deliver operational insights that were previously unavailable. These developments have expanded the role of surveillance in security, governance, and commerce, while intensifying debate about privacy, accountability, and regulation.
AI now sits at the core of most modern surveillance systems. In 2025, AI-powered video analytics moved firmly into the mainstream, supporting real-time threat detection and behavioural analysis. Surveillance systems no longer operate as passive recording tools; instead, they analyse video streams as they are captured, identifying people, vehicles, objects, and unusual activity.
A key technical shift has been the rise of edge computing. Rather than transmitting raw video to central servers, many cameras now process data locally using onboard AI chips. This reduces network load, improves response times, and allows surveillance to function in environments with limited connectivity. Edge processing also enables selective data retention, storing only relevant information rather than continuous footage. While this improves efficiency and limits data exposure, the data retained can still be sensitive, raising ongoing privacy concerns.
Biometric surveillance continued to expand in 2025, particularly facial recognition, voice recognition, and emerging techniques such as gait analysis. Improved accuracy in crowded or poorly lit environments has made these systems more attractive to law enforcement, transport authorities, and private operators.
Biometrics are increasingly embedded in everyday infrastructure, including transport hubs, office buildings, retail spaces, and border-control systems. Their growing use has heightened concerns about mass identification, consent, and error rates. Even small inaccuracies can have serious consequences when systems operate at scale, particularly for marginalised groups. Some jurisdictions have introduced restrictions or moratoria on certain biometric uses, while others have expanded deployment, citing security and efficiency benefits.
The rise of AI-generated deepfakes has further exposed vulnerabilities in biometric systems. As synthetic faces and voices become more convincing, surveillance and authentication technologies must evolve to detect spoofing attempts, adding technical and regulatory complexity.
Surveillance in 2025 has also extended beyond traditional video. Multi-sensor systems combining optical cameras with thermal imaging, infrared sensors, audio detection, and radar are increasingly common. These systems improve detection in low-visibility conditions such as darkness, smoke, or severe weather, while providing more comprehensive situational awareness.
Mobile surveillance platforms are now widely used for large public events, border monitoring, disaster response, and rapid incident assessment. Equipped with high-resolution cameras, thermal sensors, and AI analytics, drones provide perspectives that fixed infrastructure cannot. Ground-based robotic systems are also appearing in controlled environments such as transport hubs and industrial facilities, capable of patrolling autonomously and alerting human operators to anomalies.
Another defining trend has been the integration of surveillance into unified security platforms. Video feeds, access-control systems, alarms, and sensor networks are increasingly managed through single interfaces, often cloud-based. This allows organisations to correlate data across systems, improving response coordination and post-incident analysis. However, greater reliance on cloud infrastructure raises concerns about cyber security risks and dependence on major technology providers.
MORE OPINION:
As surveillance capabilities expand, so do concerns about civil liberties. In 2025, Australia's regulatory frameworks struggled to keep pace with technological change. Public debate increasingly centres on proportionality and transparency: who is monitored, for what purpose, and under what safeguards. There is growing recognition that technical solutions alone are insufficient. Effective oversight, clear legal standards, and public trust are essential if surveillance technologies are to be used legitimately.
The developments of 2025 reflect a broader shift toward intelligent and integrated monitoring systems.
How Australia manages the tension between security and individual rights will shape not only the future of surveillance in Australia, but also how well we can protect public spaces and community events.
- Professor Clive Williams MG was formerly director of security intelligence in Defence. clive.williams@terrint.org
