Police departments often buy and use technology in secret. Hidden from public view, tools like predictive policing and facial recognition reinforce police bias against BIPOC individuals and immigrants. Networks of surveillance cameras spy on city residents as they go about their lives. And despite the social cost of these tools, police tech doesn’t improve public safety.
This guide will help you educate decisionmakers and demand that the police be accountable for their tech. It will help you oppose police tech that falls short of basic standards. Today, most police tech fails to meet the most minimal standards for public safety, real-world performance, community input, transparency and accountability.
COMMON SHORTCOMINGS OF POLICE TECHNOLOGY
1. Public safety impact
No community should use police technology without proof that it promotes public safety.
2. Any system police can access is police technology
“Police technology” is more than just the tools that police own, and includes any system they can access, including school and transit tech.
3. Community input and approval
Police technology should never be used without approval by impacted communities
4. Transparency
Police departments should clearly explain what tools they use and how they use them to the public.
5. Third-party evaluation
No tools should be used with independent proof that they work and won’t harm residents.
6. Analyzing real-world impacts
Cities must analyze whether a policing tool will expand police bias.
7. Third-party data stewardship
Trusted, independent agencies, not police, should hold all data collected by police tech.
