Interior minister Pance Toshkovski has announced the introduction of a „smart system" to protect victims of domestic violence. The idea, in principle, is that a victim can press one button on their phone to activate audio and video recording, while at the same time sending a location signal to the Ministry of Interior, health services and social services. All with the victim's consent.

Toshkovski claims this is an upgrade of the existing 112 emergency line, where calls are already recorded. What is new is the real-time video link. According to him, when it comes to the „right to life", no other right can be compared to it - meaning privacy steps into the shadows when there is an immediate danger.

The opposition arrived with a question: is this a smart system or surveillance software? Toshkovski replied that such accusations are „insane imagination" and manufactured fear. Translation: those who question the credibility of state power to use audio-video recording are either „crazy" or politically motivated, not citizens with legitimate concerns.

The context is serious. Macedonia has historically known cases of illegal recording and wiretapping by state institutions - cases that brought down entire governments and led to deep reforms (on paper). Experts and the Operational-Technical Agency (OTA) say: before such a system is introduced, the legal framework for procedure and oversight must be crystal clear. In other words - the system cannot be „smart" if the rules for using it are not transparent.

Five cases of domestic violence in 24 hours (see our report from today) is the reality. Victims need fast protection. That is not disputed. What is disputed - who writes the rules about which person, at what moment, and with whose oversight will have access to those audio and video recordings. Will those recordings be kept in a database, and for how long? Who will have access? Can they be used in other investigations, once they exist?

Toshkovski says everything is still in „development phase" and that there will be „institutional consultations". That is a standard formulation. The question for readers: will there be public debate with civil society before a law is adopted, or will it be pushed through quickly without serious oversight? The Ministry's history suggests the latter. Stay alert.