How High Tech Tools Profile Police and Punish the Poor

High tech tools are being used by police to profile and punish the poor. These tools, which include predictive policing software, facial recognition technology, and body cameras, are often used in ways that are discriminatory and unfair. For example, predictive policing software has been shown to be biased against black and brown people, and facial recognition technology has been shown to misidentify people of color. These tools are also often used without transparency or accountability, which makes it difficult to challenge their use. As a result, high tech tools are contributing to the mass incarceration of the poor and the erosion of civil liberties.

Automating Inequality: How High-Tech Tools Profile, Police, and Punish the Poor

by Virginia Eubanks

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5634 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	283 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

Predictive Policing Software

Predictive policing software is a type of software that uses data to predict where and when crime is likely to occur. This software is often used by police departments to allocate resources and to identify potential suspects. However, predictive policing software has been shown to be biased against black and brown people. For example, a study by the Center for Privacy & Technology found that predictive policing software used by the Chicago Police Department was more likely to predict crime in black and brown neighborhoods than in white neighborhoods, even though the crime rates in these neighborhoods were similar. This bias is likely due to the fact that predictive policing software relies on data from past arrests, which are more likely to be made in black and brown neighborhoods due to racial profiling.

Facial Recognition Technology

Facial recognition technology is a type of software that can identify people by their faces. This technology is often used by police departments to identify suspects and to track people of interest. However, facial recognition technology has been shown to misidentify people of color. For example, a study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology found that facial recognition software was more likely to misidentify black and brown people than white people. This bias is likely due to the fact that facial recognition software is trained on data sets that are predominantly white. As a result, facial recognition technology is less accurate at identifying people of color, which can lead to false arrests and wrongful convictions.

Body Cameras

Body cameras are small cameras that are worn by police officers on their uniforms. These cameras are used to record interactions between police officers and the public. Body cameras have the potential to increase transparency and accountability in policing. However, body cameras are often used in ways that are discriminatory and unfair. For example, some police departments have policies that require officers to turn off their body cameras during certain types of interactions, such as traffic stops. These policies make it difficult to hold police officers accountable for misconduct. Additionally, body camera footage is often used to target and harass people of color. For example, a study by the American Civil Liberties Union found that black people are more likely to be stopped by police and have their body camera footage reviewed than white people. This bias is likely due to the fact that police officers are more likely to view black people as suspicious and dangerous.

The Impact of High Tech Tools on the Poor

The use of high tech tools by police has a disproportionate impact on the poor. This is because the poor are more likely to be stopped by police, arrested, and convicted of crimes. Additionally, the poor are more likely to live in neighborhoods that are targeted by predictive policing software and facial recognition technology. As a result, the poor are more likely to be subjected to the discriminatory and unfair use of high tech tools.

The use of high tech tools by police is contributing to the mass incarceration of the poor and the erosion of civil liberties. These tools are being used to target and harass people of color, and to deny them their basic rights. It is time for us to demand an end to the use of high tech tools by police. We must fight for a more just and equitable society.

Call to Action

We urge you to contact your elected officials and demand that they take action to end the use of high tech tools by police. You can also support organizations that are working to fight for civil liberties and to protect the rights of the poor.

• American Civil Liberties Union
• Center for Privacy & Technology
• Electronic Frontier Foundation
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
• Southern Poverty Law Center

Automating Inequality: How High-Tech Tools Profile, Police, and Punish the Poor

by Virginia Eubanks

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5634 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	283 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE