Little Rock Shoots Down ShotSpotter: A Victory for Privacy and Community Rights
Little Rock has ditched ShotSpotter, joining a nationwide trend of cities rejecting the error-prone gunshot detection tech. Critics say it risks privacy and fuels discriminatory policing. As the city saves $188,000, it’s a win for those challenging surveillance technologies and their dubious impact on public safety. Can your city follow suit?
Hot Take:
Looks like Little Rock just gave ShotSpotter the boot, proving once again that sometimes the loudest sound a city can make is the quiet click of a contract not being renewed. Kudos to the community members who shot their shot at City Hall and hit the bullseye! Now, let’s hope they use that $188,000 to buy something that actually works—like a few good pairs of noise-canceling headphones for city council meetings.
Key Points:
- Little Rock City Hall packed with community members against ShotSpotter.
- Board members voted 5-3 to end the city’s contract with ShotSpotter.
- ShotSpotter accused of steering federal grants to secure funding.
- EFF criticizes gunshot detection systems for enabling discriminatory policing.
- National Stop ShotSpotter Coalition supports grassroots advocacy against the tech.