Currently, the city council of Somerville is engaged in discussions regarding the potential discontinuation of a technology designed to detect the sound of gunshots and alert law enforcement.
Councilor at Large Willie Burnley Jr. initiated the discussion on the effectiveness and future utilization of ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system created by SoundThinking, a public safety technology company. Burnley raised concerns about the technology’s significant margin of inaccuracy, which could result in unwarranted use of lethal force by police and potentially volatile encounters between the community and law enforcement.
The Somerville police force has not yet issued a response, although a recent report from the department disclosed that officials have been responding to an average of four ShotSpotter alerts per month between 2017 and 2021. The city’s surveillance technology ordinance governs the implementation of ShotSpotter and mandates an annual report to the city council detailing the technology’s usage.
Digital Fourth, a civil liberties organization in Greater Boston, indicated that there are presently 35 sensors installed across Somerville and has advocated for the termination of the city’s contract with ShotSpotter. Additionally, a report by Wired revealed that ShotSpotter sensors are predominantly situated in communities of color, a finding which appears to hold true for Somerville as affirmed by Burnley.
In the wake of Burnley’s proposal, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts has urged the Somerville City Council to discontinue the use of ShotSpotter. Kade Crockford, the program director for the ACLU’s Technology for Liberty, has raised concerns regarding the technology’s unreliability, inefficacy, and potential civil rights infringements for communities of color. They cited data from various communities across the country in support of these concerns and highlighted Chicago as an example of a city that has abandoned the use of the contentious technology.
SoundThinking, the developer of ShotSpotter, defended its product, asserting that the locations of sensors are determined objectively and that their technology contributes to public safety.
While certain city councilors, such as Jesse Clingan and Matt McLaughlin, have expressed support for ShotSpotter, others like J.T. Scott believe that the city could function without it. Mayor Katjana Ballantyne’s office underscored the city’s commitment to exploring innovative approaches to enhance public safety, including piloting programs like ShotSpotter. However, they ensured that the concerns raised by the ACLU will be thoroughly examined in determining the future of this technology in Somerville.
The debate regarding the usage of ShotSpotter in Somerville has instigated discussions not only regarding the effectiveness of the technology but also its impact on civil liberties and public safety. As the city continues to deliberate on this matter, it remains to be seen whether ShotSpotter will continue to be part of Somerville’s public safety initiatives.