Chicago Justice Show
The short version: Chicago Justice Project's roundup on ShotSpotter's troubled record is a reminder that gunshot detection and ALPR networks are two halves of the same surveillance buildup.
Our Take
Credit to the Chicago Justice Project for keeping local accountability journalism alive in a format most outlets have abandoned. Their breakdown of the Tribune's ShotSpotter coverage lands at a moment when cities everywhere are quietly stacking surveillance technologies on top of each other — acoustic sensors, license plate readers, drones — and asking residents to just trust that it's all working as advertised.
ShotSpotter has been dogged for years by questions about accuracy, cost, and whether it actually reduces crime or just generates more police contact in already over-policed neighborhoods. Flock Safety's ALPR network raises the same core problem: a privately built, city-funded surveillance layer with little independent audit of whether it delivers on its promises, and plenty of evidence that the data gets used in ways far beyond the original pitch. When these systems get bundled together, a single 911 call or alert can trigger an entire web of automated tracking before any human has verified a thing happened.
If you want to see how far that camera network has spread near you, check our map, and if you're ready to push back at a city council meeting, our action resources can help you get started.
This is DeFlock The USA’s original commentary. The video above is the work of Chicago Justice Project, published on YouTube — full credit to the creator.