Confronting Surveillance Tech at the Local Level – Community Responses to State Repression

Across the country, local law enforcement agencies are rapidly expanding their use of surveillance technologies such as license plate readers, facial recognition, predictive policing algorithms, and real-time crime centers, often with minimal public oversight. This panel explores the growing surveillance infrastructure in cities and towns, how these tools disproportionately impact marginalized communities, and the broader implications for civil liberties and racial justice.

24th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference
October 9-10, 2025 | Held Virtually

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Panelists examine how surveillance technology is funded, deployed, and justified under the banner of public safety and how communities are organizing, legislating, and litigating in response. From grassroots campaigns to city council fights to data privacy legislation, this conversation highlights both the risks of unchecked surveillance and the power of local resistance.

Attendees leave with a deeper understanding of the surveillance landscape at the local level, real-world examples of community-led advocacy, and concrete strategies for challenging harmful technologies in their own cities.

Speakers
  • Selinda Guerrero, Human Rights Community Organizer and Activist, ShotSpotter Coalition
  • Edith Romero, Eye on Surveillance
  • Devren Washington, Organizing Director, People’s Tech Project
  • Sarah Whittington, Advocacy Director, ACLU of Louisiana
  • Jumana Musa, Director, NACDL Fourth Amendment Center (moderator)

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