Summary

The NYPD announced an expansion of its “Drone as First Responder” program, using drones to respond to robberies and alerts from ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system with a high error rate.

The drones will provide real-time video and audio to officers, aiding in investigations, crowd monitoring, and emergency responses.

Civil liberties groups have raised privacy concerns, especially as ShotSpotter has been criticized for inaccuracies and for disproportionately targeting Black and brown neighborhoods.

Other cities, like Chicago and Durham, have already moved to end or review their ShotSpotter contracts.

  • @otacon239
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    421 month ago

    I can imagine being robbed and a drone just flies around with blinking red and blue lights with a siren.

    📢 POLICE ARE ON THEIR WAY - ESTIMATED WAIT TIME IS 25-30 MINUTES 📢

    • @Frozengyro
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      241 month ago

      You are currently 24 in the queue. Upgrade to NYPD Plus™ to receive priority service, only 58.99 a month!

    • Tiefling IRL
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      71 month ago

      Live in NYC. Wait time is closer to 2-3 hours. Unless someone has a gun, NYPD doesn’t care

  • Flying Squid
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    221 month ago

    When do they get the Department of Precrime to go with it?

      • @RestrictedAccount
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        21 month ago

        No problem, Trump supporters will tell them the color of the neighborhoods to target.

        • @Death_Equity
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          31 month ago

          It would be easier to say what color neighborhoods not to target.

  • @[email protected]
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    171 month ago

    So what’s to stop the government using these for mass surveillance or targeting government dissidents

    • @PagingDoctorLove
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      141 month ago

      Don’t you worry your pretty little head about it. If you’re not doing anything wrong then it won’t matter, right?

      Lol.

  • @Zahille7
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    81 month ago

    So even more useless than it already is?

    • EleventhHour
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      71 month ago

      Just want until the drones discover Candy Crush. Then the drones will get drones.

  • BougieBirdie
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    61 month ago

    It’s all fun and games until there’s a shahed in the bodega

  • Daemon Silverstein
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    31 month ago

    It would be so unfortunate if someone made an Open source hardware version of anti-drone guns…

    • @[email protected]
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      231 month ago

      The first time someone shoots one down, they’re going to make it so that downing a drone has the same criminal penalty as attacking an officer. Mark my words.

  • Dog
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    11 month ago

    In before they shoot down the drones.

  • @TokenBoomer
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    11 month ago

    I’m sure they’ll put them back in storage after problems are resolved…NOT.