EFF Applauds Little Rock, AR for Cancelling ShotSpotter Contract

Published by Deeplinks on in Internet
Tags: gunshot detection ShotSpotter controversy Little Rock city hall contract rejection police surveillance technology EFF criticism discriminatory policing private conversations National Stop ShotSpotter Coalition community organizers public safety failure marginalized communities grassroots advocacy federal grant funding
AI Analysis

: The Little Rock City Council voted 5-3 to end the city's contract with ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system accused of steering federal grants towards local police departments. EFF has long criticized the technology, citing its risk of capturing private conversations and enabling discriminatory policing. The decision follows a grassroots advocacy effort by community members, who have dedicated time and resources to debunking ShotSpotter's marketing claims. This move joins a growing list of cities rejecting such surveillance technologies, highlighting the need for community-led initiatives in promoting public safety and protecting marginalized communities from harm.

Key Points

  • The role of federal grants in shaping police technology decisions, particularly in the context of surveillance systems like ShotSpotter.
  • The impact of gunshot detection systems on marginalized communities, including the risk of capturing private conversations and enabling discriminatory policing.
  • The importance of community-led efforts in rejecting invasive technologies and promoting public safety through alternative means. Summary (100 words): The Little Rock City Council voted 5-3 to end the city's contract with ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system accused of steering federal grants towards local police departments. EFF has long criticized the technology, citing its risk of capturing private conversations and enabling discriminatory policing. The decision follows a grassroots advocacy effort by community members, who have dedicated time and resources to debunking ShotSpotter's marketing claims. This move joins a growing list of cities rejecting such surveillance technologies, highlighting the need for community-led initiatives in promoting public safety and protecting marginalized communities from harm.

Original Article

Community members coordinated to pack Little Rock City Hall on Tuesday, where board members voted 5-3 to end the city's contract with ShotSpotter.

Initially funded through a federal grant, Little Rock began its experiment with the “gunshot detection” sensors in 2018. ShotSpotter (now SoundThinking) has long been accused of steering federal grants toward local police departments in an effort to secure funding for the technology. Members of Congress are investigating this funding. EFF has long encouraged communities to follow the money that pays for police surveillance technology.

Now, faced with a $188,000 contract renewal using city funds, Little Rock has joined the growing number of cities nationwide that have rejected, ended, or called into question their use of the invasive, error-prone technology.

EFF has been a vocal critic of gunshot detection systems and extensively documented how ShotSpotter sensors risk capturing private conversations and enable discriminatory policing—ultimately calling on cities to stop using the technology.

This call has been echoed by grassroots advocates coordinating through networks like the National Stop ShotSpotter Coalition. Community organizers have dedicated countless hours to popular education, canvassing neighborhoods, and conducting strategic research to debunk the company's spurious marketing claims.

Through that effort, Little Rock has now joined the ranks of cities throughout the country to reject surveillance technologies like gunshot detection that harm marginalized communities and fail time and time again to deliver meaningful public safety. 

If you live in a city that's also considering dropping (or installing) ShotSpotter, share this news with your community and local officials!

Source: Deeplinks

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