baltimore downtown

Lawsuit Blocks Baltimore From Launching Surveillance Plane Program to Investigate Crimes

Activists and ACLU lawyers succeeded in stopping a six-month trial run of an aerial surveillance program funded by private philanthropists.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • Apr 13, 2020

A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union has blocked the launch of a pilot program in Baltimore that would have allowed surveillance planes to help investigate crimes after they were reported.

Lawyers representing local activists concerned about their constitutional rights to not be searched without cause or freely associate with others were successful in obtaining a temporary injunction from a federal judge in Maryland, The New York Times reported. Richard D. Bennett ruled that the planes could not collect footage until he ruled on whether the program should not proceed while the case is still being considered.

Implementing an aerial surveillance program in Baltimore is unconstitutional and the most “wide-reaching surveillance dragnet ever employed in an American city,” said Brett Max Kaufman, senior staff attorney at the ACLU’s Center for Democracy.

“This technology is the equivalent to having a police officer follow you every time you leave the house,” Kaufman said in a statement, according to WBFF. “It presents a society-changing threat to everyone’s rights to privacy and free association, and we need to put a stop to it now.”

The lawsuit comes after the Baltimore Board of Estimates approved a six-month pilot program contract between the city and Arnold Ventures, a private philanthropy organization that offered to fund the planes, pilots, analysts and hangar space for the project, which aims to prevent and solve crime by capturing images of 32 square miles of the city for a minimum of 40 hours per week.

Police officers would not be able to use the footage in real time or for police chases, only having the option to request footage from a certain area and time period for investigation of a reported crime.

Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison was originally hesitant about the program last year, but has since voiced his support for a pilot program to test the effectiveness of the technology. He also noted that no one can be arrested solely based on the planes’ images and that data is deleted after 45 days unless needed for an investigation.

Local residents have expressed support for the measure as a way to address growing violent crime rates in the city, according to one poll conducted last fall. But local activists and residents who have signed onto the ACLU lawsuit say that Baltimore police should invest in community-building efforts within neighborhoods, not new surveillance technology. The police department has been harshly criticized for incidents of police abuse that have hurt community trust in law enforcement.

“Throughout our country’s history, federal agencies have worked in collaboration with local law enforcement to surveil political dissenters,” said plaintiff Dayvon Love, who works as the director of public policy for the think tank Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle. “We are adamantly opposed to a program that gives law enforcement new and improved tools to watch and potentially harm people who challenge the dominant social order and power structure.”

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

  • AI Used as Part of Sophisticated Espionage Campaign

    A cybersecurity inflection point has been reached in which AI models has become genuinely useful in cybersecurity operation. But to no surprise, they can used for both good works and ill will. Systemic evaluations show cyber capabilities double in six months, and they have been tracking real-world cyberattacks showing how malicious actors were using AI capabilities. These capabilities were predicted and are expected to evolve, but what stood out for researchers was how quickly they have done so, at scale. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.