EFF Publishes New Research on Real-Time Crime Centers in the U.S.
EFF has published a new report, "Surveillance Compounded: Real-Time Crime Centers in the United States," which profiles seven surveillance hubs operated by local law enforcement, plus data on dozens of others scattered across the country.
Researched and written in collaboration with students at the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno, the report focuses on the growth of real-time crime centers (RTCCs). These police facilities serve as central nodes and control rooms for a variety of surveillance technologies, including automated license plate readers, gunshots detection, and predictive policing. Perhaps the most defining characteristic of a RTCC is that a network of video cameras installed in the community that analysts watch on a wall of monitors, often in combination with sophisticated, automated analytical software.
As we write in the report:
RTCCs are similar to Fusion Centers, to the extent the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. We distinguish between the two: fusion centers are technology command centers that function on a larger regional level, are typically controlled by a state-level organization, and are formally part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's fusion center network. They also focus on distributing information about national security "threats," which are often broadly interpreted. RTCCs are generally focused on municipal or county level activities and focus on a general spectrum of public safety issues, from car thefts to gun crime to situational awareness at public events.
The term “real-time” is also somewhat misleading: while there is often a focus on accessing data in real-time to communicate to first responders, many law enforcement agencies use RTCC to mine historical data to make decisions about the future through "predictive policing," a controversial and largely unproven strategy to identify places where crime could occur or people who might commit crimes.
We identified more than 80 RTCCs in the U.S. in 29 states, with the largest number concentrated in New York and Florida. The report includes case studies of RTCCs in: Albuquerque, NM; Atlanta, GA; Detroit, MI; Miami Gardens, FLA; New Orleans, LA; Ogden, UT; and Sacramento,CA. We have also included a profile of the Fresno Real-Time Crime Center, which was suspended prior to publication of our report.
These profiles break down the costs, what technology is installed in neighborhoods, and what type of equipment and software is accessible by RTCC staff.
We also document controversies that have arisen in response to the creation of these RTCCs.
"Surveillance Compounded" is part of the Atlas of Surveillance project, an ongoing collaboration with the Reynolds School of Journalism that aims to build a central database and map of police technologies using open source intelligence.
This is the second such report, following 2019 "Atlas of Surveillance: Southwestern Border Communities," which documented surveillance technology in the 23 U.S. counties that border Mexico.
As of November 15, 2020, the Atlas contains more than 6,100 data points related to automated license plate readers, drones, body-worn cameras, cell-site simulators, and other law enforcement technologies.
Visit the Atlas of Surveillance.
Related Issues
That was 50 years ago, probably before many readers of this site were born. Fast-forward to now to see that the distinguished author and Professor of International Relations at George Washington University is moderating a forum of Civil Dialogues in Washington DC.
The first one tackles critical choices - a relevant topic today.
Civil Dialogues Series Starts March 2018
To provide an opportunity to engage in civil discourse about social and political issues, and will demonstrate-with the goal-that people of diverse viewpoints can have fruitful dialogues with one another.
(Please see links to more information and a link to the first forum streaming video on CSpan below)
There are knowledgeable panelists from a range of backgrounds and points of views
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The first forum is not too academic, scholarly or wonk. Etzioni is almost prophetic when the chosen subjects of this public discourse have hit the news now - Facebook/Cambridge Analytics, encryption technology and email privacy, GPS/Geo-tech tracking, data merchants, surveillance without borders and others. The hour-and-a-half go by quickly when your attention span is extended.
One item grabbed my attention when brought up by the moderator: Clear Choice.
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Modern Surveillance Privacy on CSpan | 26 March 2018
1 https://www.c-span.org/video/?443054-1/lawyers-discuss-privacy-concerns-modern-era
2 https://archive.org/details/CSPAN_20180328_054600_Modern_Surveillance__Privacy
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Arena Forum: Civil Dialogues Series Starts March 2018
The conversations seek to provide an opportunity for members of the Washington, D.C. community to engage in civil discourse about social and political issues, and will demonstrate-with the goal-that people of diverse viewpoints can have fruitful dialogues with one another. Each Arena Forum will have a group of prominent Dialogue Starters and will be moderated by Amitai Etzioni, a University Professor at The George Washington University and author.
The first Arena Forum on March 26 will tackle 'exploring the thesis that surveillance is excessive and privacy is endangered by both the government and by private corporations.' The Dialogue Starters that evening will include Julie Brill, ?Corporate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Microsoft and former Commissioner of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission; Matthew Olsen, Harvard Law School and former General Counsel for the National Security Agency?; Jeffrey Rosen?, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center and former legal editor the New Republic; Gabe Rottman, Washington director for PEN America and former Legislative Counsel and Policy Advisor at the American Civil Liberties Union; and Peter Swire?, Professor of Law and Ethics at the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business and former White House coordinator.
more information : www.arenastage.org/forum
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