With the explosion of surveillance data being harvested across many different sectors, fusion centers were built to consolidate the multiple streams of surveillance data into information-sharing hubs that include local, state, federal, and private entities. Each state has at least…
Author: Tracy Rosenberg
Panel Discussion: Shotspotter Gun Detection Across The Country
In September 2023, anti-surveillance activists from across the country (Chicago, Portland, and Northern and Southern California) came together to discuss gunshot detection and leading manufacturer Shotspotter (now known as “SoundThinking”). The panel was hosted by POP Pasadena and featured Mohammed…
San Leandro Delays Expansion of ALPR Program
The San Leandro City Council voted 4-3 to reject, for now, a police proposal to double the number of license plate readers in the East Bay town from 41 to 82. The initial 41 were approved in 2022, but just…
CVE/PVE/TVTP: What’s The Latest Version of Homeland Security Terrorism Prevention Programs?
Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), a program developed by the Obama administration, sought to combat radicalization, then defined almost entirely as Muslim-based violent extremism, through using schools and social service agencies to “identify” potential terrorists based on somewhat poorly defined characteristics.…
On World Press Freedom Day: Open Letter on Protecting Encryption
As organizations that believe in the power of the right of privacy as an enabler of free speech and freedom of the press, we call on all governments to: Read the full letter here.
Shotspotter Document Shows Humans Overrule Software Based On 100% Certainty of Mind
In the Chicago lawsuit filed by Michael Williams, a Chicago resident who served 9 months in jail before charges against him were dismissed, gunshot detection manufacturer Shotspotter released a 19-page operational document to the plaintiffs. The document was the only…
Federal Trade Commission Proposed Rulemaking On Data Privacy And Commercial Surveillance
On November 21st, the newly filled out Federal Trade Commission accepted written comments on an Announcement of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) that asked a sweeping set of questions about what to do about the commercial data economy in the United States.…
CA Privacy Advocates Comments To CA Privacy Protection Agency 11/21/22
A coalition of privacy advocates, including Oakland Privacy, Media Alliance, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, ACLU Action, Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Consumer Federation submitted comments on the latest draft of CA Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) rulemaking. The rulemaking follows the Ca…
Oakland Police Department Captain Selling Shotspotter Gun Detection Software in Portland
Portland privacy activists have reported that Oakland Police Captain Trevelyon Jones, the head of OPD’s Shotspotter Division, has been appearing remotely at community meetings in Portland, Oregon at the request of gunshot detection software manufacturer Shotspotter, to hawk their product.…
2023 Privacy Rights Fellow: Jessica Ramos
Oakland Privacy is pleased to announce that Jessica Ramos will be joining us as the 2023 Privacy Rights Fellow. Jessica is Oakland born-and-raised and is currently pursuing a Ph.D at the Annenberg School at the University of Southern California. She…