Recent Report Aids Journalists in Scrutinizing Police Surveillance Technology
SAN FRANCISCO — A new report released today provides journalists with guidance on critically evaluating the claims made about police surveillance technology, focusing on accurate reporting of costs, benefits, privacy implications, and accountability measures as these tools are increasingly adopted by communities nationwide.
The “Selling Safety” report is a collaborative effort by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the Center for Just Journalism (CJJ), and IPVM. It aims to equip journalists with the resources to move beyond marketing narratives and delve into the realities of these technologies.
The Problem with “Silver Bullet” Solutions
Police technology is frequently marketed as a quick fix – a way to modernize departments, enhance public safety, and eliminate human bias through algorithmic objectivity. However, the report highlights a largely unregulated industry that prioritizes the appearance of effectiveness over actual, measurable results. Blindly accepting these claims can lead to significant financial costs, erosion of privacy, and infringements on civil liberties.
Deconstructing the Sales Pitch
“Selling Safety” helps journalists dissect how companies market their policing tools and how those marketing claims are often uncritically repeated in media coverage. It offers practical tools for formulating better questions, understanding the underlying incentives, and identifying local accountability stories. The report emphasizes that the industry providing technology to law enforcement is largely unexamined and consequential.
“Most Americans would rightfully be horrified to know how many decisions about policing are made: not by public employees, but by multi-billion-dollar surveillance tech companies who have an insatiable profit motive to market their technology as the silver bullet that will stop crime.” – Matthew Guariglia, EFF Senior Policy Analyst
The Role of Journalists and Lawmakers
The report points to a tendency among lawmakers to prioritize appearing “tough on crime” and among journalists to readily publish law enforcement press releases about new technology without sufficient scrutiny. “Selling Safety” aims to provide insight into the processes behind police technology adoption, enabling reporters and lawmakers to recognize tactics such as exaggerated marketing, fabricated effectiveness data, and close relationships between companies and police departments.
“Surveillance and other police technologies are spreading faster than public understanding or oversight, leaving journalists to do critical accountability work in real time. We hope this report helps make that work easier.” – Hannah Riley Fernandez, CJJ’s Director of Programming
Conor Healy, IPVM’s Director of Government Research, stresses that “Marketing is not a substitute for evidence.” Journalists who critically examine vendor claims, he argues, will often find that the promised solutions are not as effective as portrayed, performing essential accountability work that protects taxpayer dollars and civil liberties.
Resources for Further Investigation
The EFF provides additional resources for understanding various police technologies and mapping their deployment across the United States: