Stop Surveillance Tech In Indiana

Surveillance technology has been increasing in popularity among law enforcement, federal agencies, and the like almost exponentially over the last few years. Sadly, Indiana is no exception to their power-grab. OpenStreetMap reports over 3,800 automated license plate readers (ALPRs) devices scanning and tracking every car on the roads of Indiana, and over 3,300 of those devices are marked as being made by Flock.

According to public records in cities across the nation and in Indiana, such as Muncie and Fort Wayne, each AI-enabled ALPR likely costs between $2,500 and $3,000 of your tax dollars. Fort Wayne pays $120,000 per year to maintain their Flock contract, Muncie pays $60,000 per year, and Indianapolis pays a projected $1,000,000 per year.

ALPRs are only the tip of the iceberg.

The Immigrant Organizing Committee (IOC) of the Central Indiana DSA became aware of the disproportionate effect this surveillance technology has on our marginalized communities, and began to investigate. They found that the cameras are just one small part of a much broader infringement on your civil rights. The tech broligarchy is raking in millions of your tax dollars every year to spy on you in your daily lives. These contracts are often signed by county and city officials with little to no room for public input.

All sorts of surveillance technology, from ALPRs to [more?], has been known to be used by ICE to kidnap and imprison members of marginalized communities all across Indiana. Flock removed wording from its privacy policy saying that it wouldn't retain or sell "customer data," otherwise known as your every movement. With 45 "287(g)" agreements across Indiana that allow your local law enforcement agencies to act as immigration enforcement, and more presumably on the way, fighting back against surveillance technology, against ICE, and for your rights is as important as ever.