surveillance Archives

EARS FOR FEAR: THE SHOTSPOTTER WORKAROUND

Boston, Regional Police Dodge Transparency Ordinance In Bolstering Surveillance Network At a public hearing at the end of November, Boston police and officials heard from activists and lawmakers concerned about transparency regarding surveillance technology in the city. The gunshot detection system ShotSpotter received particular criticism over accuracy and deployment, but

DAN ATKINSON December 13, 2022

CENTRA INTELLIGENCE

New Documents Reveal Extent, Cost Of BPD’s Secret Surveillance Strategy After more than 100 white supremacists gathered in Boston and marched through the city over Independence Day weekend, city and law enforcement officials said they “did not have intelligence” that the nationally-known Patriot Front group was coming to the Hub—despite

DAN ATKINSON July 11, 2022

THE PANDEMIC PAYDAY CONTINUES—FOR CONSULTANTS

Image via City Life/Vida Urbana Mass uses questionable tools to investigate eviction relief applicants State officials are spending more than $750,000 of COVID-19 aid on corporate consultants who will investigate applicants for eviction relief by running analytics on applications that housing advocates say can prevent residents from getting the relief

DAN ATKINSON April 12, 2022

MASS SEEKS TO CREATE AI TASK FORCE, WON’T PUBLICLY NAME APPOINTEES

“This body does not seem to be centering issues related to accountability, justice, racial discrimination or other forms of bias.”

DAN ATKINSON August 18, 2021

BINJ IMPACT ON THE SURVEILLANCE FRONT IN BOSTON

We have continued to cover these issues with our publishing partners, most recently via Dan Atkinson and his excellent work for DigBoston.

CHRIS FARAONE June 8, 2021

SOMERVILLE’S USE OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY AT A GLANCE

A look at the tools recently introduced for use by the City.

SHIRA LAUCHAROEN March 9, 2021

FLAW PATROL

“Increased patrols do not protect anyone … they are actively harmful to poor and oppressed people who are routinely harassed, brutalized, and surveilled by the police in Boston and across the country.”

OLIVIA DENG January 28, 2020

CAUGHT ON CAM-SHARE

BPD seeks access to private security cameras, experiments with new surveillance network The Boston Police Department wants to deputize your surveillance system. After a crime, police canvass for private security cameras. Sometimes, they obtain a warrant for the tapes or data, or simply ask for the owner’s consent to access

DANIEL DEFRAIA March 21, 2018

FLAME WAR

Council greenlights social media surveillance despite lack of BPD transparency With the dawn of a new kind of surveillance upon us, it’s critical to trace the advent of social media monitoring in Mass back to its roots. There is a demonstrable history of the Boston Police Department and other city

SARAH BETANCOURT December 19, 2016

LICENSE TO CONNIVE

Boston still tracks vehicles, lies about it, and leaves sensitive resident data exposed online Prior to two weeks ago, when this reporter alerted authorities that they had exposed critical data, anyone online was able to freely access a City of Boston automated license plate reader (ALPR) system and to download dozens

KENNETH LIPP September 8, 2015