Technology

Technology

1. Drones

   • Drones can be used to survey land, investigate a potential crime scene for safety before sending an officer in, and be paired with facial recognition technology to identify a potential suspect when they might be evading a physical police presence.
   • Drones can create privacy issues. Most people would be uncomfortable knowing that the police could be watching them or their house at any time through the use of drones, effectively causing an amount of distrust in the police for fear of breached privacy.

2. Body Cameras

   • Body cameras allow police to be held accountable for their actions. They can give the public a sense of comfort knowing interactions are being recorded. Footage from body cameras could also potentially be used as training opportunities to teach new officers how to react in certain situations.
   • Body camera footage also shows police making the "wrong" choices. It is also a problem in the media when body camera footage is released and the public has a negative reaction to an officer who is doing their job properly but not in a way that the public thinks is acceptable.

3. AI Programs

   • AI programs that are being introduced today can be used to fight cyber crime, catch predators, can combat sex trafficking. Programs can be used to scan websites (ads and posts) for things that might look suspicious and certain words and phrases that can indicate criminality.
   • Most of the public believes that there is a reasonable expectation of privacy on the internet. Most people would not be okay with police AI programs scanning their Facebook and Reddit accounts for potential criminal activity if they are not directly suspected of a crime.

4. GIS Technology

   • Police use GIS technology to map out problem areas or "hot spots". This technology is useful in easily identifying areas that are higher in crime and could be potentially more dangerous than other surrounding areas.
   • The public may be uncomfortable knowing that the police are mapping out areas and potentially labeling their neighborhood as a "problem". This could lead to a heavier police presence and could make law-abiding citizens feel as though they are seen as criminals just for living in a high crime area.