Company behind ShotSpotter responds to Chicago controversy

Our Take

Chicago pulling the plug on ShotSpotter is a reminder that even well-funded surveillance vendors eventually have to answer for their track record. Credit to FOX 32 Chicago for getting the company's response on camera — it's the kind of accountability moment that rarely happens until a contract is already on the chopping block. SoundThinking's statement defending the tech is predictable, but it doesn't erase years of documented concerns about false positives, over-policing in specific neighborhoods, and murky performance data that city officials struggled to independently verify.

This fight matters beyond audio sensors on light poles. ShotSpotter, license plate readers, and facial recognition are all pieces of the same puzzle: cities quietly stacking automated surveillance systems that residents never voted on and can rarely audit. When one piece gets scrutinized and cut, it should prompt questions about the rest of the stack — including the ALPR cameras that are still expanding largely unchecked in many of the same neighborhoods.

If you want to see how much of this camera infrastructure exists near you, check our map, and if you're ready to push back on unaccountable surveillance contracts in your own city, our take-action guide is a good place to start.