Types of Surveillance Technology

What they do: Take photos of every car that passes by, recording the plate, time, date, and location.
Why it matters: Your daily movements can be tracked and stored, even if you haven’t done anything wrong.
Where to look: Ask your sheriff, police, or city council if they’ve signed contracts with companies like Flock Safety or Vigilant.
How to take action: You can request records or push your city to say no to LPR contracts.

What it does: Uses microphones to listen for loud sounds and alert police when it thinks a gunshot happened.
Why it matters: It can misfire, sending cops to neighborhoods based on fireworks, backfires, or even nothing.
Where to look: ShotSpotter often shows up in contract budgets or grant-funded proposals. Check city council agendas.
How to take action: Demand transparency and evidence that it works. Many cities are reconsidering or canceling it.

What they do: Aerial surveillance from the sky. Police or other agencies can fly over protests, farms, or homes.
Why it matters: Drones make it easy to record people without them knowing, and often without a warrant.
Where to look: Ask about drone purchase records, flight logs, or policies about use.
How to take action: Push for clear rules or bans on drone surveillance over private property.

What they do: Law enforcement can ask Google or other tech companies for a list of all devices near a location or searching for certain words.
Why it matters: You can end up in a police investigation just for being in the wrong place, or searching for the wrong thing.
Where to look: Local police don’t always disclose this. You can ask for data-sharing agreements and warrant logs.
How to take action: Push for public notice anytime these tools are used.

What they do: Collect and combine data from many sources (police, DMV, schools, social services) into centralized systems, often in partnership with DHS or ICE.
Why it matters: What happens in one agency can quietly affect your life in another, without you knowing.
Where to look: Regional fusion centers often have public-facing sites. Ask about data-sharing MOUs or partnerships.
How to take action: Fight for data minimization and transparency in how local agencies use shared info.