4 ms·

ShotSpotter seems like a good idea. Why am I supposed to be hating on them? I guess I'm out of the loop.

helpfulContrib 3y ago
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mdorazio 3y ago
Because it doesn't actually work as advertised, leading to things like over-policing and poorer response times to actual crime [1]. [1] https://council.seattle.gov/2023/11/13/police-chiefs-critical-of-shotspotter-cities-pulling-out-of-contracts/ https://council.seattle.gov/2023/11/13/police-chiefs-critica...
voxadam 3y ago
It's ineffective. https://www.macarthurjustice.org/blog2/shotspotter-is-a-failure-whats-next/ https://www.macarthurjustice.org/blog2/shotspotter-is-a-fail... https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/four-problems-with-the-shotspotter-gunshot-detection-system https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/four-problems-w... https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/shotspotter-why-waste-money-we-dont-have-on-technology-that-doesnt-work/ https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/shotsp... https://www.axios.com/2022/04/07/campaign-zero-against-shotspotter-crime https://www.axios.com/2022/04/07/campaign-zero-against-shots...
DDickson 3y ago
These devices are typically installed in "high crime" areas. They then detect more crime (Or just loud noises). This calls police to respond to the area, and increased interaction with police commonly leads to increased confrontation with police leading to arrests. Thus re-enforcing the "high crime" reputation of the area.
- david38 3y ago
  If they worked as advertised, it would be fine. You don’t just uniformly deploy such things. They’re not free. But like you said, if they just detect loud noise, that’s a problem.
janice1999 3y ago
The technology is not only unreliable [0] the company will manipulate and change reports to suit police officers [1]. [0] https://eu.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2018/01/11/judge-reverses-conviction-man-who-shot-officer/1017531001/ https://eu.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2018/01/11/ju... [1] https://www.thetrace.org/2021/08/chicago-police-shotspotter-gunshot-detection-shooting-contract/ https://www.thetrace.org/2021/08/chicago-police-shotspotter-...
phkahler 3y ago
>> ShotSpotter seems like a good idea. Why am I supposed to be hating on them? I guess I'm out of the loop. Because (right or wrong) people protested ShotSpotter and the city agreed to stop using it. But they keep using it.

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Because it doesn't actually work as advertised, leading to things like over-policing and poorer response times to actual crime [1]. [1] https://council.seattle.gov/2023/11/13/police-chiefs-critical-of-shotspotter-cities-pulling-out-of-contracts/ https://council.seattle.gov/2023/11/13/police-chiefs-critica...

voxadam 3y ago

It's ineffective. https://www.macarthurjustice.org/blog2/shotspotter-is-a-failure-whats-next/ https://www.macarthurjustice.org/blog2/shotspotter-is-a-fail... https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/four-problems-with-the-shotspotter-gunshot-detection-system https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/four-problems-w... https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/shotspotter-why-waste-money-we-dont-have-on-technology-that-doesnt-work/ https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/shotsp... https://www.axios.com/2022/04/07/campaign-zero-against-shotspotter-crime https://www.axios.com/2022/04/07/campaign-zero-against-shots...

DDickson 3y ago

These devices are typically installed in "high crime" areas. They then detect more crime (Or just loud noises). This calls police to respond to the area, and increased interaction with police commonly leads to increased confrontation with police leading to arrests. Thus re-enforcing the "high crime" reputation of the area.

david38 3y ago
If they worked as advertised, it would be fine. You don’t just uniformly deploy such things. They’re not free. But like you said, if they just detect loud noise, that’s a problem.

janice1999 3y ago

The technology is not only unreliable [0] the company will manipulate and change reports to suit police officers [1]. [0] https://eu.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2018/01/11/judge-reverses-conviction-man-who-shot-officer/1017531001/ https://eu.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2018/01/11/ju... [1] https://www.thetrace.org/2021/08/chicago-police-shotspotter-gunshot-detection-shooting-contract/ https://www.thetrace.org/2021/08/chicago-police-shotspotter-...

phkahler 3y ago

>> ShotSpotter seems like a good idea. Why am I supposed to be hating on them? I guess I'm out of the loop. Because (right or wrong) people protested ShotSpotter and the city agreed to stop using it. But they keep using it.