Emily Galvin-Almanza
@GalvinAlmanza

For those who don't know shot spotter is a technology that claims to identify gunshots but actually really identifies loud noises, giving police the opportunity to come into a community because somebody slammed a garbage can.

Background

https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/four-problems-with-the-shotspotter-gunshot-detection-system

Essentially technology like this is a substitute for the consent of a community to the manner in which they are policed.

In other words, when ppl stop engaging violent or dehumanizing police, this tech calls the police in anyway.

https://theappeal.org/police-surveillance-tech-trust/

This election where ppl most impacted by violence in Chicago chose a mayor who wants to address ROOT CAUSES of crime instead of ineffective outdated measures is tremendously exciting, and it also makes sense that investors would recognize a sign to divest from outdated cop tech.

This kind of tech doesn't get used in wealthy white neighborhoods. Wealthy white ppl are allowed to choose not to call the police.

A systemic, racist assumption of criminality in poor neighborhoods and Black/brown neighborhoods robs them of this choice

Shotspotter stock dropped 22% yesterday. 📉

Yes, it was because of the election. +

– @SLKollmann

Apr 6, 2023, 1:30:49 PM

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