“Guardrails” Won’t Protect Nashville Residents From AI-Enabled Camera Networks

“Guardrails” Won’t Protect Nashville Residents From AI-Enabled Camera Networks

Favorite Nashville’s Metropolitan Council is one vote away from passing an ordinance that’s being branded as “guardrails” against the privacy problems that come with giving the police a connected camera system like Axon’s Fusus. But Nashville locals are right to be skeptical of just how much protection from mass surveillance products they can expect.   “I am…

Anchorage Police Department: AI-Generated Police Reports Don’t Save Time

Favorite The Anchorage Police Department (APD) has concluded its three-month trial of Axon’s Draft One, an AI system that uses audio from body-worn cameras to write narrative police reports for officers—and has decided not to retain the technology. Axon touts this technology as “force multiplying,” claiming it cuts in half the amount of time officers…

EFF In Conversation With Ron Deibert on Chasing Shadows

Favorite Join EFF’s Cindy Cohn and Eva Galperin in conversation with Ron Deibert of the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab, to discuss Ron’s latest book: Chasing Shadows: Cyber Espionage, Subversion and the Global Fight for Democracy. Chasing Shadows provides a front-row seat to a dark underworld of digital espionage, dark PR, and subversion. The book provides…

Anti-Surveillance Mapmaker Refuses Flock Safety's Cease and Desist Demand

Favorite Flock Safety loves to crow about the thousands of local law enforcement agencies around the United States that have adopted its avian–themed automated license plate readers (ALPRs). But when a privacy activist launched a website to map out the exact locations of these pole-mounted devices, the company tried to clip his wings.   The company…

EFF Applauds Little Rock, AR for Cancelling ShotSpotter Contract

Favorite 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 Use of Face Recognition Continues to Wrack Up Real-World Harms

Favorite Police have shown, time and time again, that they cannot be trusted with face recognition technology (FRT). It is too dangerous, invasive, and in the hands of law enforcement, a perpetual liability. EFF has long argued that face recognition, whether it is fully accurate or not, is too dangerous for police use,  and such…

Aerial and Drone Surveillance: 2024 in Review

Favorite We’ve been fighting against aerial surveillance for decades because we recognize the immense threat from Big Brother in the sky. Even if you’re behind within the confines of your backyard, you are exposed to eyes from above. Aerial surveillance was first conducted with manned aircrafts, which the Supreme Court held was permissible without a…

The Atlas of Surveillance Expands Its Data on Police Surveillance Technology: 2024 Year in Review

Favorite EFF’s Atlas of Surveillance is one of the most useful resources for those who want to understand the use of police surveillance by local law enforcement agencies across the United States. This year, as the police surveillance industry has shifted, expanded, and doubled down on its efforts to win new cop customers, our team…

FTC Rightfully Acts Against So-Called “AI Weapon Detection” Company Evolv

Favorite The Federal Trade Commission has entered a settlement with self-styled “weapon detection” company Evolv, to resolve the FTC’s claim that the company “knowingly” and repeatedly” engaged in “unlawful” acts of misleading claims about their technology. Essentially, Evolv’s technology, which is in schools, subways, and stadiums, does far less than they’ve been claiming.  The FTC…