♪ ♪
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
>> John: WELCOME, WELCOME,
WELCOME TO LAST WEEK TONIGHT!
I'M JOHN OLIVER, THANKS FOR
JOINING US!
IT'S BEEN A BUSY WEEK.
ZELENSKY AND NETANYAHU MET WITH
TRUMP, WE SAW THE INCREDIBLE
HEADLINE "KASH PATEL LOSES
LAWSUIT AGAINST MAN WHO CALLED
HIM "GOOGLY EYED CHUD"-- WHICH
I THINK MEANS THAT'S HIS LEGAL
NAME NOW.
AND THIS HAPPENED:
>> THE CHASE FOR THE SQUIRREL IS
ON.
AND THE SQUIRREL IS IN THE
CORNER, AND THE SQUIRREL IS
STILL ELUDING AN ENTIRE HOARD OF
GROUNDS CREW MEMBERS.
AND THE SQUIRREL IS FREE ONCE
AGAIN.
HEMMED IN?
NO I WON'T BE HEMMED IN, I HAVE
FREEDOM ON MY MIND.
TRYING TO GO IN BETWEEN THE LEGS
AND EVENTUALLY...
HE GETS AWAY AGAIN!
AND HOPS THROUGH THE TOWEL!
AND HOPS THROUGH ANOTHER TOWEL!
>> John: OH, K, I THINK FROM
NOW ON EVERY BASEBALL GAME
SHOULD JUST BE A BUNCH OF ADULTS
TRYING TO TRAP A SQUIRREL WITH A
TOWEL.
AND CREDIT TO THAT ANNOUNCER FOR
NARRATING THAT LIKE IT WAS "THE
ODYSSEY".
IT TAKES VISION TO SEE A
SQUIRREL EVADING A GROUNDS CREW
AND TO SHOUT, "I HAVE FREEDOM ON
MY MIND!"
SADLY, THE SQUIRREL WAS
EVENTUALLY CAUGHT, BUT BY THE
TOP OF THE EIGHTH INNING, THE
TIGERS MASCOT WAS HOLDING UP A
SIGN SAYING "FREE THE SQUIRREL."
WHICH IS EXCELLENT-- AND A SIGN
WE MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE TO BORROW
SOON IF BUC-EE'S COMES FOR OUR
MR. NUTTERBUTTER MERCH.
STILL AVAILABLE BY THE WAY,
UNTIL IT LEGALLY ISN'T!
MEANWHILE, AMERICA'S CYCLOSPORA
OUTBREAK CONTINUED TO SPREAD.
>> THE CDC SAYS FOUR MORE
STATES: ILLINOIS, KANSAS,
OKLAHOMA, AND PENNSYLVANIA ARE
LINKED TO THAT SPIKE IN
CYCLOSPORIASIS CASES ACROSS A
TOTAL OF NINE STATES CAUSED BY
SHREDDED ICEBERG LETTUCE SOURCED
BY TAYLOR FARMS.
NEARLY 2,000 PEOPLE IN THOSE
STATES GOT SICK AFTER EATING THE
LETTUCE AT TACO BELL WHICH HAS
REMOVED ALL AFFECTED PRODUCTS
BUT THAT IS JUST THE FRACTION OF
THE RECORD BREAKING NEARLY
12,000 POTENTIAL CASES OF THIS
PARASITE NATIONWIDE AND THAT
NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO GO UP.
SO, IF YOU'RE EATING AT A
RESTAURANT, IT IS RECOMMENDED
THAT YOU ASK THE SOURCE OF THEIR
LETTUCE, OR YOU EAT COOKED
VEGETABLES FOR NOW.
>> JOHN: YEAH.
THE BEST ADVICE THEY HAVE FOR
YOU RIGHT NOW IS TO BASICALLY
PLAY LETTUCE DETECTIVE AT EVERY
RESTAURANT.
AND WHAT'RE YOU REALLY EXPECTING
THEM TO SAY?
"AW, SHIT, WE ACTUALLY GET IT
FROM SAM'S PARASITE BARN.
WE WERE HOPING NO ONE WOULD
ASK."
BECAUSE LET'S BE HONEST, YOUR
SERVER DOESN'T KNOW WHERE THE
RESTAURANT SOURCES THEIR
LETTUCE.
THEIR MAIN CONCERN IS THAT THE
BARTENDER THEY FUCKED LAST WEEK
STOPPED WORKING MONDAYS, AND
THEIR MANAGER WON'T RELEASE NEXT
MONTH'S SCHEDULE UNLESS EVERYONE
GOES TO HER POETRY NIGHT.
SO WHY NOT GIVE THEM ALL A BREAK
AND JUST ORDER SOUP?
NOW, IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT
CYCLOSPORIASIS, THE SYMPTOMS ARE
UNPLEASANT TO SAY THE LEAST:
>> IT GIVES YOU, AND I'M SORRY
TO HAVE TO SAY THIS,
DEBILITATING, EXPLOSIVE DIARRHEA
THAT CAN LAST FOR WEEKS.
>> I WASN'T FEELING WELL.
THE PAIN IN MY STOMACH WAS LIKE
UNBEARABLE.
>> I IMMEDIATELY HAD TO SPRINT
TO THE BATHROOM.
IT WAS HORRIBLE.
>> THE PEOPLE SAYING, "OH, I
WANT TO GET THE PARASITE, I WANT
TO LOSE WEIGHT."
NO YOU DON'T.
>> JOHN: YEAH, OF COURSE YOU
DON'T.
NOBODY SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THE
PEOPLE WHO POOPED SO WEIRD THAT
THEY MADE IT ONTO THE NEWS AND
THINK: "SHOULD'VE BEEN ME."
AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST EVEN DESCRIBED
THE SYMPTOMS AS, "IT'S
UNCONTROLLABLE AND IT'S VERY
LIQUID.
IF YOU'VE SEEN PICTURES FROM
CHOLERA WARDS, WHERE THE
PATIENTS ARE ON GURNEYS, AND THE
GURNEY HAS A HOLE WHERE YOUR
BUTT GOES, AND THERE'S A BUCKET
UNDERNEATH THE HOLE, IT'S VERY
SIMILAR."
AND NO OFFENSE, BUT I DON'T
THINK THAT EPIDEMIOLOGIST SHOULD
BE ALLOWED TO GIVE STATEMENTS
ANYMORE.
WE WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING
LIKE, "IT'LL CAUSE DIGESTIVE
ISSUES," NOT "TACO BELL MADE
AMERICANS SHIT SO HARD AND WET
THEY NEED ASSLESS BEDS LIKE A
19TH CENTURY POOP WARD."
IT'S NO WONDER TACO BELL VISITS
BRIEFLY DROPPED BY NEARLY A
THIRD, AND THE COMPANY'S GONE
OUT OF ITS WAY TO TRY AND
REASSURE PEOPLE.
>> WE ACTUALLY HAVE A STATEMENT
FROM TACO BELL THAT THEY PUT OUT
NOT LONG AGO SAYING, "WE WANT
YOU TO HEAR IT FROM US.
WE TAKE YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY
SERIOUSLY AND HAVE REMOVED ALL
AFFECTED TAYLOR FARMS LETTUCE
FROM TACO BELL STORES.
SO GO AHEAD AND ENJOY YOUR TACO
BELL TODAY.
YOU ALWAYS GOT US.
WE ALWAYS GOT YOU.
SEE YOU IN THE DRIVE-THRU.
>> JOHN: NO YOU FUCKING WON'T!
AND THERE'S TRULY NO MORE
EFFICIENT WAY TO SAY THERE'S A
NATIONWIDE DIARRHEA EPIDEMIC
THAN THE PHRASE "WE HAVE A
STATEMENT FROM TACO BELL."
BECAUSE IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE
GOOD NEWS.
IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE "WE HAVE
A STATEMENT FROM TACO BELL: THEY
FOUND AMELIA EARHART.
SHE'S 129 AND HOUSING A
CRUNCHWRAP.
SHE JUST LOST TRACK OF TIME!"
BUT IT'S NOT JUST A NOTES APP
NON-APOLOGY-- TO WIN CUSTOMERS
BACK, TACO BELL'S EVEN BEEN
OFFERING $1 MENU ITEM DEALS FOR
ITEMS THAT DON'T CONTAIN ANY
LETTUCE.
LIKE THIS ENCHIRITO-- WHICH
LOOKS LIKE A MURDERED BURRITO
DYING IN A POOL OF ITS OWN BLOOD
-- AND THIS MEXICAN PIZZA--
WHICH LOOKS LIKE A PLATE OF
NACHOS THAT STUDIED ABROAD IN
ROME FOR SIX MONTHS AND NOW
CALLS ITSELF PIZZA.
AND LOOK-- I'LL GIVE TACO BELL
CREDIT FOR ONE THING.
THEY PROACTIVELY ADDRESSED THIS
PROBLEM.
AND TO BE FAIR: CYCLOSPORA IS
HARD TO TRACK.
AND AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT
BEFORE, THE FDA'S BEEN
UNDERFUNDED FOR DECADES NOW.
BUT THIS SECOND TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION HAS SOMEHOW
MANAGED TO MAKE A BAD SITUATION
SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE.
>> IN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SECOND
TERM, THE FDA HAS LOST ABOUT 20%
OF ITS STAFF.
THE CDC IS DOWN 25%.
THE CDC USED TO HAVE 11
SCIENTISTS TRACKING FOOD
PARASITES.
NOW IT'S THREE.
>> JOHN: WAIT, ONLY "THREE"
PEOPLE!?
THAT'S CLEARLY NOT ENOUGH!
IT REALLY FEELS LIKE WE
SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FIT THE
CDC'S ENTIRE PARASITE TRACKING
TEAM COMFORTABLY ONTO A PORCH
GLIDER.
LOOK, AS WE'VE SAID BEFORE, A
GOOD PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM IS ONE
YOU DON'T NOTICE.
A BAD ONE MAKES HEADLINES.
AND BOY ARE WE SEEING THAT NOW.
AND MEANWHILE, SECRETARY OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ROBERT
KENNEDY-- OR AS HIS FRIENDS
CALL HIM...
HAS TRIED TO REASSURE PEOPLE.
BUT JUST THE DAY AFTER HE
CLAIMED THE CYCLOSPORA OUTBREAK
WAS "UNDER CONTROL", THE FDA
ANNOUNCED IT WAS INVESTIGATING A
NEW OUTBREAK, WITH CASES ONLY
GROWING SINCE.
AND LOOK-- CLEARLY, NONE OF
THIS IS IDEAL.
AND IT SAYS SOMETHING PRETTY
GRIM ABOUT AMERICA THAT WHEN IT
COMES TO ACTING SWIFTLY TO
PREVENT A PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT,
THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT JUST LOST
THE MORAL HIGH GROUND TO FUCKING
TACO BELL.
BUT SINCE THEY SEEM TO BE IN THE
MOOD TO MAKE AMENDS TO CUSTOMERS
RIGHT NOW, WE FIGURED THE LEAST
WE COULD DO IS HELP THEM OUT.
>> HEY AMERICA, WE AT TACO BELL
WANT YOU TO KNOW WE CARE ABOUT
YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY.
THAT'S RIGHT, THE INVENTORS OF
FIERY DORITOS LOCOS TACOS CARE
ABOUT YOUR PHYSICAL WELL-BEING.
SO WE ARE HERE TO SAY, WE ARE
SORRY.
WE ARE GOING TO LIVE CONTRITO,
WHICH IS HOW A CHIHUAHUA WOULD
SAY SORRY IF HE HADN'T DIED
RUSHING THE COCKPIT IN 911.
WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF OUR
FOOD, MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN
SHITTING YOUR BRAINS OUT IN A
WAY THAT WE NEVER INTENDED.
BECAUSE TACO BELL HAS ALWAYS
PRIDED ITSELF ON TWO THINGS.
HAVING THE WETTEST FOOD IN
AMERICA, AND ONLY GIVING YOU THE
REGULAR, NORMAL LEVEL OF
DIARRHEA.
THAT'S WHY WE TEMPORARILY
REMOVED LETTUCE FROM OUR FOOD.
SO WHILE YOU ARE POWERING
THROUGH OUR MEXICAN FOOD
ADJACENT MENU, INCLUDING OUR--
JESUS CHRIST-- SAUSAGE
CRUNCHWRAP SUPREME, YOU CAN FEEL
CONFIDENT YOU WERE AVOIDING ONE
NARROW DEFINITION OF
GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASE.
AGAIN, WE ARE NOT PROMISING YOU
WON'T GET REGULAR DIARRHEA.
I MEAN, YOU'VE SEEN OUR FOOD,
RIGHT?
THERE'S SOMETHING ON THE MENU
CALLED DIABLO DUSTED CHICKEN
NUGGETS, OKAY?
WE ARE JUST SAYING.
WE WILL TRY NOT TO GIVE YOU THE
KIND OF DIARRHEA THAT WILL PUT
YOU ON THE NEWS.
AND IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, THEN
FRANKLY THAT'S ON YOU, BIG GUY!
FOR EATING SOMETHING CALLED THE
BEEFY POTATO LOADED THRILLER.
AND YOU EXPECTED NOT TO SHIT
YOUR PANTS?
TACO BELL.
WHERE ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO GO
WHEN YOU'RE DRUNK?
FUCKING WENDY'S?
GET OUT OF HERE!
>> JOHN: MOVING ON.
OUR MAIN STORY TONIGHT CONCERNS
SURVEILLANCE.
Y'KNOW, THE THING THIS PERVERT
DOES ALL YEAR LONG.
HE SEES YOU WHEN YOU'RE
SLEEPING, HE KNOWS WHEN YOU'RE
JACKIN' IT TO THE GILDED AGE.
SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE GOING TO
LOOK AT POLICE SURVEILLANCE
TECHNOLOGY.
IT TAKES MANY FORMS, FROM
CAMERAS, TO FACIAL RECOGNITION,
TO EVEN THIS:
>> THE ROBOT ITSELF WAS GIVEN
THE NAME HP ROBOCOP, FOR
HUNTINGTON PARK.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, RATHER A
FUTURISTIC PIECE OF EQUIPMENT
THAT ESSENTIALLY IS A
SOPHISTICATED CURRENT-TIME
HIGH-DEFINITION CAMERA SYSTEM.
>> PLEASE HELP KEEP THE PARK
CLEAN.
>> SO, INITIALLY, THERE WAS SOME
NEGATIVE SORT OF REACTION TO THE
ROBOT.
THE ROBOT WAS VANDALIZED AND IT
WAS TIPPED OVER.
>> JOHN: YEAH, OF COURSE IT WAS!
CAUSE LOOK AT IT!
IT'S A GLORIFIED ROOMBA THAT
NARCS.
AND DID YOU HEAR ITS VOICE?
I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS POSSIBLE
TO CREATE A DWEEBIER ROBOT THAN
THIS VIRGIN, BUT ENTER STAGE
LEFT-- THE POLICE EGG.
IT'S GOT THE BODY OF A WEEBLE
AND THE VOICE OF A HALL MONITOR.
AND IT'S OKAY FOR ME TO SAY THAT
BECAUSE... SAME.
THE POLICE LOVE USING
SURVEILLANCE TECH, AND IN RECENT
YEARS, THE PREVALENCE OF LOCAL
MASS SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS HAS
EXPLODED, THANKS TO CHEAPER
TECHNOLOGY AND INCREASED FUNDING
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND THIS ALL TENDS TO GET
PRESENTED AS A BOON TO PUBLIC
SAFETY.
LOCAL NEWS LOVES TO COVER
CITIES' "REAL TIME CRIME
CENTERS".
HERE'S A STORY ABOUT ONE IN LAS
VEGAS...
HERE'S ONE IN DETROIT...
AND HERE'S ONE IN COOPER CITY,
FLORIDA.
AND IN THAT STORY, THE TOWN'S
THEN-MAYOR OFFERED THIS UPBEAT
ASSESSMENT.
>> EVERYONE IS BEING WATCHED.
AND IF YOU'RE DOING NOTHING
WRONG, DOESN'T MATTER WHAT
YOU'RE DOING.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING
WRONG, WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT,
WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE
WHEREWITH-ALL TO COME AND GET
YOU.
WE'VE GOT ESSENTIALLY BIG
BROTHER ON STEROIDS.
>> JOHN: OKAY, I'M NOT SURE
THAT'S QUITE THE SELL HE THINKS
IT IS.
FOR ONE THING, "BIG BROTHER" IS
PRETTY FAMOUSLY NOT THE HERO OF
1984.
BUT THE TRUTH IS, A LOT OF THE
TECHNOLOGIES THAT FEED INTO
THOSE CENTERS HAVE SIGNIFICANT
PROBLEMS-- FROM CIVIL LIBERTIES
ISSUES, TO THE WAY THAT MORE
RECENTLY, THEY'VE BEEN
WEAPONIZED TO TARGET IMMIGRANTS.
AND IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE NOW AT A
POINT WHERE THERE NEEDS TO BE
MORE AWARENESS OF WHAT'S
ACTUALLY OUT THERE.
SO GIVEN THAT, TONIGHT, WE
THOUGHT WE'D DO SOMETHING A BIT
DIFFERENT, AND TRY TO GIVE YOU A
FIELD GUIDE FOR SOME OF THE MOST
COMMON SURVEILLANCE TOOLS.
SPECIFICALLY: CAMERAS,
MICROPHONES, LICENSE PLATE
READERS, "CELL SITE SIMULATORS",
AND THE PRACTICE OF "PREDICTIVE
POLICING" THAT COMBINES ALL OF
THEM TO MAKE THAT "BIG BROTHER"
ON STEROIDS LINE TRUE IN ALL THE
WORST WAYS.
AND LET'S START WITH CAMERAS.
YOU'VE UNDOUBTEDLY SEEN POLICE
SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS ALL OVER
THE PLACE, AND THE CASE FOR THEM
IS PRETTY SIMPLE.
HERE'S A POLICE OFFICER IN NEW
ORLEANS-- WHERE COPS HAVE
ACCESS TO OVER 2,000 CAMERAS--
PITCHING THE UPSIDE:
>> WE HAD A SHOOTING AT THIS
VERY INTERSECTION AT 4:30 IN THE
MORNING.
THE GENTLEMAN THAT GOT SHOT
CLAIMED TO BE THE VICTIM.
WE WATCHED THE VIDEO
SURVEILLANCE, WENT BACK AND
SHOWED THAT ACTUALLY HE WAS
ACTUALLY SHOOTING AT THE YOUNG
MAN FIRST.
SO IT KIND OF, YOU KNOW, HELPED
US EXONERATE THE GUY WE WERE
LOOKING FOR.
>> AND IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE
CAMERA, DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD
HAVE KNOWN THE TRUTH?
>> NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
>> JOHN: REALLY?
IF THAT'S TRUE, THAT SOUNDS LESS
AN ARGUMENT "FOR" CAMERAS, THAN
IT IS AN ARGUMENT "AGAINST" YOU.
BECAUSE YOU BASICALLY JUST
ADMITTED, "WE COULDN'T DO DICK
ALL UNTIL WE GOT THEM VIDEO
DOO-DADS."
BUT THE THING IS, POLICE DON'T
JUST USE CAMERAS TO FIND
EVIDENCE OF SOMETHING THAT
HAPPENED.
THEY CAN ALSO USE THEM TO FISH
FOR CRIMES THAT THEY THINK
MIGHT.
ESSENTIALLY USING THEM AS A
DIGITAL FORM OF STOP-AND-FRISK.
STAYING IN NEW ORLEANS, TAKE THE
CASE OF MICHAEL CELESTINE, WHO
POLICE THERE ACCOSTED, AFTER
THEY WATCHED HIM WALKING AROUND
IN A PUFFY JACKET.
YOU CAN SEE THEM ZOOM THE CAMERA
IN ON HIM, AND TRACK HIS
MOVEMENTS FOR 15 MINUTES.
AND THEIR JUSTIFICATION FOR
DOING THAT IS THEY CLAIM HE HAD
A SUSPICIOUS BULGE IN HIS JACKET
-- WHICH IS ALREADY A WEIRD
THING TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR
IN A STATE WHICH ALLOWS FOR
CONCEALED CARRY, BUT AN EVEN
WEIRDER THING TO DO WHEN THE
WHOLE IDEA BEHIND PUFFY JACKETS
IS THAT THEY BULGE.
IT'S QUITE LITERALLY, THE PUFF
PART.
PUFFY JACKETS ARE ESSENTIALLY
FASHION BUBBLE WRAP.
BABES, READ A VOGUE.
THE POLICE ULTIMATELY CHASED,
AND THEN ARRESTED AND TASED
CELESTINE, BEFORE FINDING A
WEAPON IN HIS PANTS LEG, ONLY
FOR THE DA TO ULTIMATELY DROP
ALL CHARGES.
BUT BECAUSE HE HAPPENED TO BE
OUT ON PAROLE, HE WASN'T ALLOWED
TO MAKE BAIL, AND HAD TO SIT IN
JAIL FOR A YEAR.
AND IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT
POLICE AREN'T JUST LIMITED TO
USING THEIR OWN SURVEILLANCE
CAMERAS.
INCREASINGLY, THEY'RE ABLE TO
USE THOSE OWNED BY PRIVATE
BUSINESSES OR HOMEOWNERS.
THERE ARE AN ESTIMATED 85
MILLION IN THIS COUNTRY, AND
POLICE NOW ROUTINELY REQUEST
ACCESS TO THEM.
IN FACT, HERE'S AN AD FROM ONE
COMPANY THAT FACILITATES THAT,
FUSUS, EXPLAINING TO BUSINESSES
HOW IT WORKS.
>> SETTING UP FUSUS IS FAST,
REQUIRES MINIMAL HARDWARE, AND
HAS NO ACTIVATION FEES.
IN AN INVESTIGATION, POLICE CAN
AUTOMATICALLY REQUEST FOOTAGE
FROM ALL NEARBY BUSINESSES AT
THE CLICK OF A BUTTON, AND
CAMERA OWNERS CAN SECURELY SHARE
RECORDED AS WELL AS LIVE VIDEO
FEEDS TO AID IN THE
INVESTIGATION.
>> JOHN: YEAH, IT'S THAT EASY.
WITH A CLICK OF A BUTTON, POLICE
CAN GET ACCESS TO HOURS OF
PRIVATE SECURITY FOOTAGE.
AND LOOK, TECHNOLOGY'S MADE A
LOT OF THINGS EASIER TO DO WITH
THE CLICK OF A BUTTON, LIKE
ORDER MEDICINE, PAY BILLS, OR
BUY THIS INEXPLICABLE WALL DECAL
OF A SENIOR WOMAN WITH ASTHMA,
OR ONE OF THAT SAME WOMAN
WIELDING A FRYING PAN AS A
WEAPON, OR A DECAL OF DR. PHIL
AS AN M&M.
ADD ALL THREE TO YOUR CART, AND
NOW YOU'VE GOT A HOME WORTHY OF
ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST.
TECHNOLOGY IS AMAZING!
BUT IT DOES FEEL LIKE TURNING ON
THE PANOPTICON SHOULD BE A BIT
HARDER THAN THAT.
AND IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.
FUSUS HAS GONE SO FAR AS
DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGY THAT
ALLOWS AMAZON'S RING DOORBELLS
TO LIVE STREAM STRAIGHT TO
POLICE CRIME CENTERS.
WHICH IS A PRETTY WILD USE OF
SOMETHING I MAINLY ASSOCIATE
WITH BRINGING US VIDEOS OF
ANIMALS WHO JUST WANNA COME
INSIDE.
JUST FOR A MINUTE.
IT'S COLD OUT HERE AND YOU'VE
GOT TREATS IN THERE.
AND WHILE SOME BUSINESSES OR
HOMEOWNERS MIGHT WANT TO DO
THAT, IN OTHER PLACES, THEY'RE
NOT GIVEN MUCH OF A CHOICE.
RIALTO, CALIFORNIA HAS MADE
STARTING A BUSINESS CONTINGENT
ON SIGNING UP WITH FUSUS, WITH
PERMITS CONTAINING LANGUAGE
LIKE, "THE SECURITY CAMERAS
SHALL BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE
RIALTO POLICE DEPARTMENT...
THROUGH FUSUS."
AND COME ON-- OPENING A SMALL
BUSINESS IS ALREADY HARD ENOUGH.
THERE'S CASH FLOW ISSUES, HIRING
AND FIRING AND OF COURSE,
DEALING WITH YELP REVIEWS THAT
SAY "WOMAN AT THE FRONT DESK HAD
A WEIRD EYE.
SCARED MY SON!
HE IS NINE!!!!"
BUT NOW, YOU ALSO HAVE TO DECIDE
IF OPENING YOUR NAIL SALON IS
WORTH BEING A NARC ON PASSERSBY.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST CAMERAS BEING
DOTTED ALL OVER THE PLACE.
IT'S ALSO MICROPHONES, LIKE THE
ONES OPERATED BY A COMPANY
CALLED SHOTSPOTTER.
IT'S USED IN OVER 200
JURISDICTIONS, AND THE WAY
SHOTSPOTTER WORKS IS, IT
BASICALLY SETS UP MICROPHONES
ALL OVER A CITY, WHICH ALERT
POLICE IF THEY SENSE A LOUD
NOISE THAT COULD BE A GUNSHOT.
AND SOME PLACES TREAT IT AS
HIGHLY RELIABLE.
IN HOUSTON, THEIR DEPARTMENT
DOESN'T DISPATCH OFFICERS FOR
ALL 911 CALLS ABOUT GUNFIRE, BUT
THEY TREAT EVERY SHOTSPOTTER
ALERT AS A TOP-PRIORITY REPORT.
ONE OFFICER EVEN SAID "NO MATTER
WHAT OTHER CALL YOU'RE ON, IF A
SHOTSPOTTER ALERT DROPS, YOU
GO."
UNFORTUNATELY, THE TECHNOLOGY
SEEMS NOWHERE NEAR AS GOOD AS
YOU'D WANT IT TO BE FOR THAT
KIND OF RESPONSE.
AN AP INVESTIGATION FOUND THE
SYSTEMS CAN MISS LIVE GUNFIRE
RIGHT UNDER ITS MICROPHONES, OR
MISCLASSIFY THE SOUNDS OF
FIREWORKS AS GUNSHOTS, WHILE
OTHER REPORTING'S FOUND
SHOTSPOTTER BEING ACTIVATED BY
CARS BACKFIRING, OR EVEN PEOPLE
USING A NAIL GUN.
WHICH IS NOT GOOD.
YOU DON'T WANT HYPED-UP COPS
SHOWING UP, WEAPONS DRAWN,
BECAUSE DAD FINALLY GOT AROUND
TO PUTTING UP THE CHRISTMAS
LIGHTS.
AND THERE'VE BEEN CASES OF
PEOPLE SEARCHED AND ARRESTED FOR
THINGS LIKE DRUG POSSESSION,
SIMPLY BECAUSE SHOTSPOTTER SENT
POLICE TO THEIR LOCATION.
SO ITS INACCURACY CAN CAUSE REAL
PROBLEMS-- AND THE EVIDENCE IT
ACTUALLY PREVENTS CRIME IS
SCANT.
IN FACT, WHEN A LOCAL NEWS TEAM
IN MINNEAPOLIS LOOKED INTO
NEARLY TWO YEARS WORTH OF
RESULTS FROM ITS SHOTSPOTTER
SYSTEM, THE RESULTS WERE DIRE.
>> THE DATA REVEALS DURING THAT
TIME, MPD RESPONDED TO
SHOTSPOTTER ACTIVATIONS ROUGHLY
8500 TIMES.
THE DATA ALSO SHOWS ABOUT 80% OF
THE TIME OFFICERS DOCUMENTED NO
EVIDENCE OF A GUN RELATED CRIME,
AND ONLY 32 ACTIVATIONS TOTAL
LED TO AN ARREST.
THAT'S LESS THAN 1% OF THE TIME.
>> THAT PERCENTAGE THERE, THAT'S
INSANE, THAT'S CRAZY.
>> JOHN: HE'S RIGHT!
IT IS CRAZY!
AND WHILE THIS ISN'T THE POINT,
THAT MAN SHOULD BE ASKED FOR
COMMENT ON LITERALLY EVERY NEWS
STORY:
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE MIKE
JOHNSON AND HIS SON MONITOR EACH
OTHER'S PORN INTAKE?
>> THAT'S CRAZY.
>> JOHN: IT IS!
REBA MCENTIRE PARTNERED WITH 40
FARMS TO MAKE CORN MAZES OUT OF
HER FACE?
>> THAT'S CRAZY.
>> JOHN: I AGREE!
HALF A MILLION ITALIANS SEEK
EXORCISMS EVERY YEAR?
>> THAT PERCENTAGE THERE, THAT'S
INSANE, THAT'S CRAZY.
>> JOHN: YEAH, MY THOUGHTS
EXACTLY.
THE POINT IS, IT SURE SEEMS LIKE
A TECHNOLOGY THIS FLAWED
SHOULDN'T BE DISPATCHING POLICE
ALL OVER A CITY.
AND THERE'S A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH
OUR NEXT TECHNOLOGY, AUTOMATED
LICENSE PLATE READERS, OR
A-L-P-R'S.
YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN THEM BY THE
SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND COPS WILL
CLAIM THEY'RE A WAY TO FIND
STOLEN CARS, OR THOSE ENGAGED IN
SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY.
THE MOST POPULAR ARE MADE BY A
COMPANY CALLED FLOCK, AND HERE'S
HOW THEY WORK:
>> FLOCK LICENSE PLATE READERS
DON'T JUST SCAN TAGS LOOKING FOR
STOLEN CARS OR VEHICLES ON A HOT
LIST.
THE CAMERAS TAKE A PHOTO OF
EVERY CAR THAT PASSES, STAMPED
WITH THE PRECISE TIME AND
LOCATION.
THE MORE CAMERAS YOU PASS, THE
CLEARER THE PICTURE OF YOUR
MOVEMENTS.
ALL OF THAT DATA IS SAVED IN A
DATABASE FOR 30 DAYS, SHARED
WITH CONNECTED POLICE
DEPARTMENTS, ALLOWING THE
GOVERNMENT TO GO BACK IN TIME TO
SEE WHERE YOUR CAR WAS AND WHEN.
NO WARRANT REQUIRED, WHETHER
YOU'RE SUSPECTED OF A CRIME OR
NOT.
>> JOHN: OKAY, FIRST, THE OSCAR
FOR CINEMATOGRAPHY GOES TO THAT
NEWS PIECE.
DRONE SHOTS, DRIVE-AND-TALKS,
AND A LICENSE PLATE CLOSE-UP
THAT'D MAKE TARANTINO BUST BOTH
NUTS?
CALL THE ACADEMY, THE RACE IS
OFFICIALLY OVER.
THE POINT IS, ALPR'S WILL SEND
UP A LOT OF ALERTS-- BUT,
UNFORTUNATELY, MANY ARE FALSE
ALARMS.
A RANDOMIZED TRIAL IN VALLEJO,
CALIFORNIA FOUND THAT 37% OF ALL
ALPR "HITS" FROM FIXED READERS,
LIKE THOSE ATTACHED TO A STREET
LIGHT, AND 35% FROM MOBILE
ALPRS, LIKE THOSE ON COP CARS,
WERE MISREADS.
WHICH IS AN ASTONISHINGLY HIGH
ERROR RATE.
AND THAT'S HAD REAL
CONSEQUENCES.
DRIVERS HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY
PULLED OVER BECAUSE A READER
READ THE NUMBERS ON THEIR PLATES
WRONG AND TAGGED THE VEHICLES AS
STOLEN.
AND SOME OF THOSE INCIDENTS HAVE
BEEN HIDEOUS, LIKE THIS ONE,
WHERE THE POLICE WRONGLY ASSUMED
A CAR FULL OF CHILDREN WAS
STOLEN-- AND I'LL WARN YOU,
THIS IS HARD TO WATCH.
>> THERE'S KIDS.
>> IT'S THESE CRIES AND SCREAMS,
BRITTNEY GILLIAM CAN'T BRING
HERSELF TO RELIVE.
>> THAT'S TERRIFYING.
AS A PARENT, THAT'S
HEARTBREAKING.
>> GILLIAM SAYS SHE WAS
SEARCHING FOR AN OPEN NAIL SALON
WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT
ON BUCKLET AND EYELESS IN
AURORA.
>> AND SHE'S SCREAMING, LIKE,
"HEY, HEY AUNTIE, THE POLICE."
>> WHEN OFFICERS PULLED UP FROM
BEHIND.
>> THEY GOT THEIR GUNS ON US,
THEY GOT THEIR GUNS ON US.
>> GILLIAM WAS IN THE SUV WITH
HER SIX-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER,
12-YEAR-OLD SISTER AND TWO
NIECES, ONE 14, THE OTHER 17
YEARS OLD.
POLICE SAY A LICENSE PLATE
READER ALERTED THEM THE SUV WAS
STOLEN.
>> JOHN: YEAH, THAT'S OBVIOUSLY
TERRIBLE.
AND YOU ALREADY KNOW THE POLICE
FUCKED UP THERE, BUT I PROMISE,
YOU'RE NOT READY FOR JUST HOW
DUMB THAT FUCKUP WAS.
>> IT TURNS OUT THE STOLEN
VEHICLE WAS ACTUALLY A
MOTORCYCLE, NOT GILLIAM'S SUV.
BOTH VEHICLES SHARE THE PLATE
NUMBER, BUT THEY WERE FROM
DIFFERENT STATES.
>> JOHN: YEAH, IT WAS A
MOTORCYCLE FROM ANOTHER STATE.
AND THE ONLY THING THAT COULD BE
FURTHER FROM AN SUV IN COLORADO
WOULD BE IF THE LICENSE ACTUALLY
BELONGED TO A HORSE IN
TENNESSEE.
AND LOOK-- SO FAR, I'VE BEEN
FOCUSING ON WHEN POLICE
TECHNOLOGY GETS STUFF ACTIVELY
WRONG, BUT IT'S WORTH
REMEMBERING-- EVEN WHEN THESE
SYSTEMS WORK PERFECTLY, THEY CAN
STILL BE WILDLY INVASIVE.
CAMERAS AND LICENSE PLATE
READERS CAN TRACK YOUR MOVEMENTS
WHEREVER YOU GO-- WHICH MEANS
THEY COULD FIND OUT IF YOU, SAY,
ATTENDED A PROTEST, OR VISITED
AN ABORTION CLINIC.
WHAT'S MORE, SOME COMPANIES,
LIKE FLOCK, MAKE A FEATURE OUT
OF THE FACT THEIR DATABASES CAN
BE ACCESSED BY NOT JUST YOUR
LOCAL POLICE, BUT ALSO BY THOSE
FROM OTHER TOWNS.
AND ON TOP OF ALL THAT, THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT-- MEANING
AGENCIES LIKE ICE AND BORDER
PATROL-- HAS BEEN KNOWN TO USE
THIS NETWORK.
FLOCK USED TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS
WITH THEM TO DO SO DIRECTLY, BUT
HAS SINCE DISCONTINUED THAT.
THOUGH THE GOVERNMENT'S STILL
ABLE TO USE THE NETWORK THROUGH
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND WHILE ALL THAT'S ALREADY
COMFORTABLY BAD ENOUGH, OTHER
TECHNOLOGIES CAN BE EVEN MORE
INVASIVE.
TAKE CELL-SITE SIMULATORS.
THEY'RE DEVICES WITH NAMES LIKE
"STINGRAY", AND THEY ALLOW COPS
TO BASICALLY SNOOP ON ANY PHONE
THAT'S NEAR THEM.
>> HERE'S HOW IT WORKS.
CELL PHONES ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO
CONNECT TO NEARBY CELL TOWERS.
A STINGRAY ACTS LIKE A CELL
TOWER DECOY IN WHAT'S CALLED "A
MAN IN THE MIDDLE" ATTACK.
IT TRICKS CELL PHONES INTO
THINKING IT'S THE NEAREST CELL
TOWER, PHONES CONNECT TO THE
STINGRAY, AND POLICE CAN ACCESS
A RANGE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION.
BUT THEY DON'T JUST GET INTEL ON
ONE PHONE.
EVERY PHONE NEARBY IS FORCED TO
DIVERT TO THE STINGRAY.
CALLS ARE PASSED ON TO A REAL
CELL TOWER, DATA SCOOPED UP
STAYS WITH POLICE.
>> JOHN: YEAH, NOT GREAT!
I DON'T WANT A DECOY CELL TOWER
GETTING ANY OF MY CELL PHONE
DATA.
BECAUSE WHAT YOU DO ON YOUR CELL
PHONE IS YOUR MOST PERSONAL OF
BUSINESS.
YOUR LAPTOP?
THAT'S FOR BUYING PLANE TICKETS,
OR MAKING AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET,
OR BROWSING CIVIL WAR MAPS AT
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
YOU KNOW, BUSINESS SHIT.
BUT YOUR CELL PHONE?
THAT'S FOR YOUR MOST DEPRAVED
BEHAVIORS.
THAT'S FOR SEXTING, OR A PHOTO
OF A RASH YOU WANT TO SHOW YOUR
DOCTOR.
IT'S FOR A PHONE NOTE THAT JUST
READS "YOUNG GADDAFI HANDSOME?"
AND SOME SAVED PHOTOS THAT
EMPHATICALLY ANSWER THE
QUESTION, AGAIN AND AGAIN.
GOOD LORD THOSE THINGS NEED TO
GO TO THE GRAVE!
CELL-SITE SIMULATORS ARE A MASS
SURVEILLANCE TOOL.
AND POLICE CAN GET A LOT FROM
THEM, FROM WHO YOU'RE CALLING,
TO WHAT YOU'RE TEXTING.
AND THE THING IS, WE DON'T KNOW
HOW OFTEN THEY DO THAT, BECAUSE
GENERALLY, LAW ENFORCEMENT KEEPS
A TIGHT LID ON ITS USAGE OF
THESE DEVICES.
IN FACT, FOR DECADES, THE FBI'S
IMPOSED SECRECY OBLIGATIONS ON
STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES, MAKING
THEM SIGN NDAS TO PREVENT
DISCLOSURE OF ANY INFORMATION
ABOUT THE DEVICES TO THE PUBLIC.
AND SOME POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE
FOUND PRETTY CREATIVE WAYS TO
HIDE THEIR USAGE OF THESE
SIMULATORS.
ONE IN FLORIDA ADVISED OFFICERS,
WHEN USING DATA OBTAINED WITH
THEM, TO JUST DESCRIBE IT AS
"INFORMATION FROM A CONFIDENTIAL
SOURCE REGARDING THE LOCATION OF
THE SUSPECT."
AND IF YOU'RE THINKING, "WELL,
MAYBE COPS NEED DEVICES LIKE
THESE FOR DIRE SITUATIONS.
WHAT IF THERE'S A KIDNAPPING OR
A BOMB THREAT?"
YOU SHOULD KNOW-- THAT'S IN NO
WAY ALL THEY GET USED FOR.
BECAUSE ONCE COPS GET A NEW TOY,
THEY TEND TO FIND LOTS OF
EXCUSES TO USE IT.
IN AT LEAST ONE INSTANCE,
STINGRAY TECH WAS USED TO TRY
AND TRACK DOWN SOMEONE WHO STOLE
15 CHICKEN WINGS AND THREE SUB
SANDWICHES.
AND LOOK: IF YOU DO THAT AND GET
AWAY SO EFFECTIVELY POLICE HAVE
TO USE A HIGH TECH CELL-SITE
SIMULATOR TO FIND YOU, I THINK
YOU'VE TECHNICALLY EARNED THOSE
FUCKING WINGS!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
AND I KNOW I'VE ALREADY THROWN A
LOT OF PROGRAMS AT YOU TONIGHT,
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER
THAT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WORK
IN ISOLATION.
THEY CAN FEED INTO "REAL TIME
CRIME CENTERS" LIKE THE ONES YOU
SAW EARLIER.
AND SOME DEPARTMENTS CAN THEN
USE ALL THE DATA FED INTO THEM
TO ENGAGE IN OUR FINAL, AND
MAYBE DUMBEST, USE OF THIS TECH.
IT'S CALLED "PREDICTIVE
POLICING"-- BASICALLY, USING
ALL THAT DATA TO FIGURE OUT
WHICH AREAS OR INDIVIDUALS MIGHT
BE LIKELY SOURCES OF CRIME.
THINK "MINORITY REPORT" BUT
INSTEAD OF THREE PALE ORPHANS
HANGING OUT IN GOO, IT'S A BUNCH
OF BLAND-LOOKING COMPUTERS.
SANTA CRUZ WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
BIG CITIES TO LAUNCH PREDICTIVE
POLICING, BACK IN 2011, AFTER
DEVELOPING IT WITH THE HELP OF A
LOCAL UNIVERSITY.
AND IT WAS PROMOTED AT THE TIME
LIKE THIS:
>> ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF
MATHEMATICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
SANTA CLARA COMPARES THIS KIND
OF REPETITIVE CRIME TO
EARTHQUAKES.
THE INITIAL CRIME IS THE FIRST
TREMOR.
SUBSEQUENT CRIMES FOLLOW LIKE
AFTERSHOCKS.
>> WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK OF AS
AFTER CRIMES, CRIMES TRIGGERED
BY AN INITIAL EVENT.
AND WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THIS
MODEL IS CREATE MAPS.
>> MAPS OF WHEN AND WHERE POLICE
SHOULD DIRECT THEIR EFFORTS.
>> WE PUT THAT INTO THE SOFTWARE
PROGRAM.
IT PRODUCES RESULTS IN A VERY
SIMPLE, EASY-TO-USE GOOGLE MAP
FORMAT THAT WE CAN THEN PROVIDE
TO THE OFFICERS TO TELL THEM
WHEN AND WHERE TO BE ON ANY
GIVEN DAY.
>> JOHN: OKAY, SO FIRST, BEFORE
YOU SAY ANYTHING-- I KNOW.
WE ALL SEE IT.
NO NEED TO DWELL ON IT.
HE'S PURE SEX.
EVERYONE AGREES.
END OF STORY.
LET IT ALL OUT.
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
THERE WAS A LOT OF HYPE AROUND
WHAT SANTA CRUZ DID AT THE TIME.
TIME MAGAZINE EVEN CALLED ITS
PREDICTIVE POLICING ONE OF THE
50 BEST NEW INVENTIONS OF 2011,
ALONG WITH-- AND THIS IS TRUE
-- THE BOEING 787.
I GUESS IT'S TRUE WHAT THEY SAY:
WHEN YOU'RE AT THE TOP, THERE'S
SIMPLY NO PLACE TO GO BUT UP IN
FLAMES.
AND SINCE THEN, OTHER CITIES
HAVE ROLLED IT OUT, INCLUDING
LA, ATLANTA, PHILADELPHIA,
CHICAGO, AND ST. LOUIS.
AND SOME POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE
APPLIED PREDICTIVE POLICING WITH
THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF A LIGHT
TOUCH.
IN PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA, THE
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT USED IT TO
COMPILE A LIST OF "TOP FIVE"
OFFENDERS AND OTHER SUSPECTS--
MANY OF THEM TEENAGERS-- BASED
ON ARREST HISTORIES, UNSPECIFIED
INTELLIGENCE AND ARBITRARY
DECISIONS BY POLICE ANALYSTS.
COPS WOULD THEN CONSTANTLY VISIT
AND QUESTION THOSE OFFENDERS
ABOUT THEIR ACTIVITIES, FILING
REPORTS WITH DETAILS LIKE, OF
ONE KID ON THEIR LIST, "HE HAS
CUT HIS HAIR, WHICH IS NOW
SHORT."
"HE ADVISED AFTER THE SUMMER
BREAK HE WILL BE GOING TO 9TH
GRADE."
AND "HE CLAIMED NOT TO BE
ASSOCIATING WITH ANY OF HIS OLD
FRIENDS."
AND THAT'S SOME CRACKER JACK
POLICE WORK RIGHT THERE!
"THIS JUST IN: LOCAL TEEN TRYING
OUT NEW VIBE THIS SCHOOL YEAR."
AND TO SEE JUST HOW RIDICULOUS
THIS GOT, TAKE THE CASE OF A KID
CALLED RIO-- A 15-YEAR-OLD BOY
WHO'D HAD ONE ARREST, FOR
STEALING MOTORIZED BICYCLES WITH
A FRIEND.
HE'D BEEN PLACED ON PROBATION,
AND HAD A PROBATION OFFICER
CHECKING UP ON HIM, BUT A YEAR
AFTER HE WAS SENTENCED, THE
COMPUTER INEXPLICABLY PLACED HIM
ON THAT TOP-FIVE LIST.
AND SUDDENLY, THE POLICE WERE
CONSTANTLY TURNING UP TO HIS
HOUSE.
THE TAMPA BAY TIMES ACTUALLY
PULLED BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE OF
THOSE INTERACTIONS, AND IT'S
JUST RELENTLESS.
>> WHY AM I ON THE TOP FIVE?
I ONLY HAVE ONE CHARGE.
>> IT'S NOT ABOUT YOUR CHARGE.
IT GOES DEEPER THAN THAT.
IT'S ABOUT YOUR NETWORK, WHO YOU
ASSOCIATE WITH, YOU'RE ON
PROBATION, SO.
>> OKAY.
I THOUGHT I ONLY HAD ONE CHARGE.
>> YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF
INVOLVEMENTS AND HISTORY WITH
PEOPLE THAT COMMIT CRIME.
>> I'LL GIVE IT THE (INAUDIBLE)
AND I'LL LET YOU KNOCK IN THE
OFF CHANCE HE'S SLEEPING HERE OR
SOME SHIT.
>> SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
>> YOU NEED RIO?
>> YEP.
>> SHE'S NICE.
I PROMISE.
>> HEY, BRO.
>> JUST COMING TO SAY HI TO RIO.
>> IS HE HOME?
>> NO.
HE'S WITH HIS MOM.
>> YOU NEED RIO?
>> YEAH.
>> AN OFFICER WANTED TO TALK TO
YOU, RIO.
>> WE'RE JUST HERE TO SAY HI TO
RIO.
HEY, RIO, WHAT'S GOING ON,
BUDDY?
MIND IF WE CHIT-CHAT FOR A
COUPLE MINUTES?
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
>> 2020.
>> JOHN: YEAH, HAPPY 2020!
IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT YEAR!
BUT IT GETS EVEN DUMBER.
ANOTHER TIME, THE COPS SHOWED UP
AND DEMANDED TO SEE RIO-- AND
WHEN HIS SISTERS SAID HE WASN'T
HOME, BECAUSE HE WAS WITH HIS
MOM AT HER WORK, JUST WATCH AS
ONE DEPUTY TRIED TO BULLY HIS
WAY INTO THE HOUSE ANYWAY.
>> SO, YOU CAN LET US WALK
THROUGH RIGHT NOW AND MAKE SURE
HE'S NOT HERE IN COMPLIANCE WITH
HIS PROBATION, OR I CAN THROW
BOTH YOU GUYS A CITATION FOR NOT
HAVING NUMBERS OF THE HOUSE.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
>> WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?
>> NUMBERS ON THE HOUSE?
>> YOU DON'T HAVE AN ADDRESS ON
EITHER THE MAILBOX OR THIS
HOUSE.
>> IS THAT BLACKMAIL OR
SOMETHING?
>> YES, WE DO!
WE HAVE OUR ADDRESS ON OUR
MAILBOX RIGHT NOW.
>> ON THE MAILBOX?
>> ON THE OTHER SIDE.
>> JOHN: THAT IS PATHETIC.
USUALLY WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORDS
"COPS" AND "BLACKMAIL," YOU
THINK OF HIGH STAKES SITUATIONS
LIKE INFILTRATING DRUG RINGS OR
CORRUPT GAMBLING SCHEMES.
NOT "LET ME SEE YOUR TEEN OR
I'LL FINE YOUR MAILBOX TO HELL."
AND LOOK-- OBVIOUSLY, COPS CAN
BE ASSHOLES NO MATTER WHAT.
BUT IT DEFINITELY DOESN'T HELP
TO HAVE A COMPUTER PROGRAM
TELLING THEM, "YOU SHOULD
ABSOLUTELY GO BE AN ASSHOLE TO
THIS PARTICULAR PERSON, BECAUSE
WE THINK THEY'RE A CRIMINAL JUST
WAITING TO HAPPEN."
AND IT'S WORTH POINTING OUT THAT
A LOT OF THE TECHNOLOGIES YOU'VE
SEEN TONIGHT-- LIKE SHOTSPOTTER
AND LICENSE PLATE READERS-- ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY USED IN
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
AND CAMERAS ARE OFTEN USED IN
TANDEM WITH FACIAL RECOGNITION
SOFTWARE, WHICH, AS WE'VE
DISCUSSED BEFORE, TENDS TO
MISIDENTIFY SUSPECTS FAR MORE
OFTEN BASED ON RACE.
SO THERE'S ALREADY RACIAL BIAS
BUILT INTO MANY OF THESE
TECHNOLOGIES, AND WHEN YOU START
FEEDING THEM INTO PREDICTIVE
POLICING, THAT ONLY GETS
COMPOUNDED.
AND IT FRANKLY SAYS SOMETHING
THAT THE PLACE THAT STARTED
PREDICTIVE POLICING, SANTA CRUZ,
ACTUALLY BACKED AWAY FROM IT A
FEW YEARS AGO, FOR EXACTLY THOSE
REASONS, AS THE POLICE CHIEF
THERE EXPLAINED.
>> THE PEOPLE WHO CREATED IT
WEREN'T INHERENTLY RACIST, BUT
THE EFFECT OF IT CAN BE RACIST.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE
CONCERNED ABOUT.
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE PUTTING POLICE
OFFICERS IN A LOCATION WHERE
THEY'RE LIKELY TO ENGAGE PEOPLE
IN A NEGATIVE WAY, THEN THAT
BECOMES THE PROBLEM.
>> JOHN: RIGHT.
AND I KNOW HE'S BEING VERY
CAREFUL THERE, BUT LUCKILY, I
CAN BE A BIT MORE BLUNT.
THE PEOPLE WHO CREATED
PREDICTIVE POLICING THAT
INCORPORATED RACIST POLICE
PRACTICES AND DATA WERE PROBABLY
INHERENTLY RACIST.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE, EITHER
KNOWINGLY OR NOT, AND THE EFFECT
IS DEFINITELY RACIST.
IT'S JUST ONE OF MANY
UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTHS WE SHOULD
PROBABLY ALL BE MORE UPFRONT
ABOUT, ALONG WITH "DEATH COMES
FOR ALL OF US," "PEOPLE LIE,"
AND UNFORTUNATELY, "THE GOAL OF
MOST DATING REALITY SHOWS ISN'T
TO FIND LOVE, IT'S TO GET ENOUGH
INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS SO YOU CAN
GET A COUPLE BRAND DEALS AND
MAYBE START A SKINCARE COMPANY."
IT'S JUST A REGRETTABLE FACT.
AND THOSE WHO PUSH ALL THESE
TOOLS WILL INSIST THAT
TECHNOLOGY ISN'T THE PROBLEM
HERE, IT'S HOW IT GETS USED.
FLOCK-- WHICH MAKES MANY OF
THOSE ALPRS I SHOWED YOU EARLIER
-- HAS BEEN BRANCHING OUT INTO
SELLING CAMERAS AND REAL-TIME
CRIME CENTERS TO LOCAL
DEPARTMENTS.
AND HERE'S HOW A SEGMENT ON ONE
OF THEM DEALT WITH CITIZENS'
CONCERNS.
>> THOSE EYES IN THE SKY AND ON
THE ROADS RAISE CONCERNS OVER
PRIVACY.
THE ACLU HAS RAISED CONCERNS
WITH FLOCK'S SURVEILLANCE
NETWORK, BUT FLOCK SAYS IT'S ALL
ABOUT HOW YOU USE IT.
>> AS LONG AS DEPARTMENTS HIRE
ETHICAL PEOPLE, WRITE SOUND
POLICY, AND HAVE OVERSIGHT ON
THOSE POLICIES, THEN YOU CAN
START TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS ALL
USED ETHICALLY.
>> JOHN: OKAY, FIRST, ENOUGH
WITH THE BEARD.
WE GET IT.
BUT SECOND-- IT'S THAT EASY, IS
IT?
JUST HIRE ETHICAL PEOPLE, WRITE
SOUND POLICY, AND HAVE OVERSIGHT
AND IT'LL ALL BE FINE.
MY BROTHER IN CHRIST, HAVE YOU
-- AND THIS IS A TECHNICAL TERM
-- LOOKED AROUND RECENTLY?
BECAUSE AS NICE AS THAT SOUNDS,
THE FACT IS, DEPARTMENTS DON'T
NECESSARILY DO ANY OF THOSE
THINGS.
THERE'VE NOW BEEN MANY, MANY
STORIES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY
OF POLICE OFFICERS ACCUSED OF
USING ALPR DATABASES TO STALK
AND HARASS WOMEN.
AS FOR OVERSIGHT, WHILE FLOCK
CLAIMS THAT EVERY SEARCH REQUEST
IS LOGGED FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
PURPOSES, WHEN THIS MAN IN
GEORGIA TRIED TO FIND OUT WHO'D
ACCESSED THE CAMERAS NEAR HIS
HOME, HIS CITY TOLD HIM IT WOULD
COST HIM HALF A MILLION DOLLARS
TO FULFILL HIS REQUEST.
WHICH IS CLEARLY CRAZY!
NOW, THEY DID GIVE HIM A MUCH
MORE LIMITED DATA SET.
BUT INTERESTINGLY, HE STILL
FOUND ENOUGH TROUBLING NEW
INFORMATION IN THERE TO THEN
TAKE IT TO A CITY COUNCIL
MEETING.
>> HUNYAR WENT TO CITY COUNCIL
WITH THE LIMITED FLOCK AUDIT
RECORDS DUNWOODY GAVE HIM.
>> NOBODY FROM FLOCK SAFETY IS
ACCESSING OR MONITORING YOUR
FOOTAGE.
ONCE AGAIN, I HAVE EVIDENCE OF
FLOCK EMPLOYEES LOOKING AT
PARKS, SCHOOLS, PLAYGROUNDS.
>> THE AUDIT LOGS ALSO SHOWED
FLOCK EXECUTIVES WATCHING
PRIVATE CAMERAS INSIDE THE
CITY'S JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER,
WHICH THE MAYOR CONFIRMED.
>> MEMBERS OF THE FLOCK SALES
TEAM WERE USING IT AS A
DEMONSTRATION.
>> JOHN: HOLD ON.
THERE'S JUST A CASCADING SET OF
"YIKES" THERE.
FIRST, YOU GET THE NEWS THAT
IT'S NOT JUST COPS AND SECURITY
GUARDS-- FLOCK EMPLOYEES ARE
WATCHING THESE CAMERAS, TOO.
THEN YOU GET TO "PARKS SCHOOLS
PLAYGROUNDS" AND A SCROLLING
LIST OF CAMERAS WITH LABELS LIKE
"GYMNASTICS" AND "GYMNASTICS
SIDE VIEW".
THEN YOU LEARN THEY'RE AT THE
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER.
AND FINALLY THAT "IT WAS FOR A
SALES DEMONSTRATION."
WHAT WAS EVEN THE PITCH THERE?
"EVER WONDER WHAT YOUR JEWISH
NEIGHBORS WERE UP TO, BUT DIDN'T
FEEL LIKE GOING OVER THERE TO
ASK?
EVER WONDER WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE
DOING YOGA?
NOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO!
WHY KNOCK WHEN YOU CAN FLOCK!"
AND WHEN A REPORTER ASKED A
FLOCK SPOKESPERSON ABOUT THAT,
IT DIDN'T GO GREAT:
>> WHY DIDN'T FLOCK FIND THOSE
VULNERABILITIES?
>> JOSH?
>> WHY DID IT TAKE A CITIZEN--
SORRY, GO AHEAD.
>> WE ACTUALLY CAN'T TALK ABOUT
THE JCC BY NAME.
SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT SOMETHING
ELSE NOW.
>> WHY CAN'T YOU TALK ABOUT THE
JCC?
>> BECAUSE WE'VE WORKED WITH
THEIR TEAM, AND WE'RE NOT GOING
TO TALK ABOUT THAT TODAY.
>> A FLOCK PR PERSON STOPPED OUR
INTERVIEW TWICE WHEN WE TRIED TO
ASK ABOUT FLOCK EMPLOYEES
VIEWING CAMERAS INSIDE THE
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER.
DID THE PEOPLE IN THOSE VIDEOS
GIVE PERMISSION TO BE PART OF A
DEMO?
>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE JCC.
NOT GONNA ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE JCC.
BUT ANY PARTNERSHIP GOING
THROUGH--
>> I HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION,
HOWEVER YOU GUYS WANT TO ANSWER
IT, AND IF YOU WANT TO SAY YOU
CAN'T ANSWER IT, YOU CAN'T
ANSWER IT.
THAT'S FINE.
BUT I HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION.
I CAN'T-- IT'S NOT A PR VIDEO.
THIS ISN'T, LIKE, A PROMOTIONAL
VIDEO.
IT'S A-- IT'S A-- I MEAN, THIS
IS--
>> I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR
WE'RE NOT-- THIS IS NOT A PR
VIDEO.
WE'RE GOOD, THOUGH.
>> JOHN: YEAH, I'M NOT SURE
YOU'RE AS GOOD AS YOU THINK YOU
ARE THERE.
AND I KNOW IT'S HARD FOR YOU TO
DEAL WITH CAMERAS YOU DON'T
CONTROL, BUT WHAT DID YOU THINK
THAT NEWS CREW WERE GOING TO DO?
LEAVE THAT EXCHANGE OUT?
NEWS STATIONS FUCKING LOVE IT
WHEN SOMEONE TRIES TO STOP AN
INTERVIEW!
ALL YOU'VE REALLY DONE THERE IS
MANAGE TO LOOK SUSPICIOUS AND TO
GET THEM TO BREAK OUT THE "GOOD"
SUBTITLES.
THE FACT IS, IT CURRENTLY TAKES
FAR TOO MUCH PRESSURE TO EXPOSE
WHAT SYSTEMS CITIES ARE USING,
AND HOW THEY'RE USING THEM.
IN FACT, REMEMBER HOW I
MENTIONED THAT RIALTO,
CALIFORNIA REQUIRES NEW
BUSINESSES TO HOOK THEIR
SECURITY CAMERAS UP TO FUSUS?
WELL, THREE YEARS AGO WE FILED A
NARROW PUBLIC-RECORDS REQUEST
WITH THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT,
ASKING FOR EMAILS IN WHICH FUSUS
WAS DISCUSSED.
THEY TOLD US THEY DIDN'T HAVE
ANY, WHICH SEEMED IMPLAUSIBLE.
SO WE FILED A MUCH BROADER
REQUEST, AND OVER THE NEXT TWO
YEARS, THEY SENT US 28 PAGES,
WHICH STILL DIDN'T SEEM LIKE ALL
THE MATERIAL THEY PROBABLY HAD.
SO LAST FEBRUARY, WE SAID FUCK
IT, SEND US AN EXPORT OF YOUR
WHOLE LOG DATABASE FOR FUSUS,
SHOWING US EVERY TIME YOUR
OFFICERS PEEKED AT A
PRIVATELY-OWNED CAMERA.
AND WE ASKED FOR IT AS A
SEARCHABLE DIGITAL FILE, AS THE
LAW REQUIRES.
BUT INSTEAD, WHAT THEY DID WAS
SEND US A 30,413 PAGE PDF.
TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF JUST HOW
MASSIVE THAT IS, IF YOU PRINTED
IT OUT, IT'S ALL THIS SHIT RIGHT
HERE.
WHICH WAS CLEARLY PRETTY
IRRITATING, BECAUSE IT'S A HUGE
AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT'S
IMPOSSIBLE TO LOOK THROUGH
QUICKLY.
THANKFULLY, WE MANAGED TO
CONVERT IT INTO A SEARCHABLE
FILE, AND IN DOING SO, FOUND
SOME THINGS THAT IT FEELS THE
PEOPLE OF RIALTO SHOULD PROBABLY
KNOW ABOUT.
FOR INSTANCE, THIS IS JUST ALL
THE TIMES POLICE THERE ACCESSED
CAMERAS AT FAST-FOOD PLACES.
AND YOU SHOULD KNOW, SOME OF
THOSE CAMERAS ARE INSIDE THE
RESTAURANT, IN AREAS ONLY
EMPLOYEES CAN ACCESS.
FOR INSTANCE, IT SEEMS THEY CAN
CHECK IN ON THE GRILL AT THE
LOCAL WIENERSCHNITZEL ANYTIME
THEY WANT.
AND IF YOU WORK AT THE
CHICK-FIL-A, JUST KNOW THAT ON
ONE TUESDAY AFTERNOON RIALTO HAD
FIVE OF YOUR INTERIOR CAMERAS
OPEN FOR TWO HOURS STRAIGHT.
THE FRONT COUNTER, THE
DRIVE-THRU REGISTER, THE
MULTIPURPOSE ROOM, THE MANAGER'S
STATION, AND THE OFFICE.
WHICH FEELS A LITTLE WEIRD.
AS DOES THE FACT THEY ACCESSED
CAMERAS AT THE RIALTO DAYS INN,
FOR HUNDREDS OF HOURS, INCLUDING
THE ONE FACING THE POOL.
AND COME ON.
GETTING SECRETLY WATCHED IN YOUR
SWIMSUIT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE
ONE OF THE PERKS OF STAYING AT A
DAYS INN.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GET A ROOM
THAT'S FINE.
A BED THAT'LL DO.
AND A FRONT DESK THAT
OCCASIONALLY HAS AN EMPLOYEE
BEHIND IT.
THAT'S THE DAYS INN PROMISE.
AND I SHOULD SAY, THE RIALTO PD
INSISTS SOME OF THOSE HITS ARE
BECAUSE THEY WERE WATCHING A
WHOLE AREA, AND SCOOPING UP ALL
THE CAMERAS, OR THAT THEY'D LEFT
A SET OF CAMERAS ON IN THE
BACKGROUND AT THEIR OFFICE.
BUT THAT IS NOT AS REASSURING AS
I THINK THEY WANT IT TO SOUND.
LOOK, IT SURE SEEMS LIKE THESE
SURVEILLANCE TOOLS HAVE MUCH
BIGGER FLAWS THAN THE PEOPLE
BOTH SELLING AND USING THEM ARE
COMFORTABLE ADMITTING.
BECAUSE TIME AND AGAIN, THE
PATTERN WHEN THEY GET ROLLED OUT
IS, THEY GET DEPLOYED IN SECRET,
THEN PUBLICLY PRESENTED IN THE
MOST POSITIVE LIGHT, AND ONLY
MUCH LATER DO WE START TO FULLY
UNDERSTAND THE DAMAGE THEY CAN
DO.
BASICALLY, THE PUBLIC
CONVERSATION COMES LAST, NOT
FIRST.
AND THE GOOD NEWS IS, DUE IN
PART TO THE VAST OVERREACH OF
THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, WE
ARE NOW FINALLY STARTING TO HAVE
THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
AROUND THE COUNTRY, PEOPLE ARE
SHOWING UP TO DEMAND THEIR
CITIES AND TOWNS END CONTRACTS
WITH COMPANIES LIKE FLOCK,
INCLUDING A MAN IN SEATTLE WHO
DID SO WHILE DRESSED AS AN ALPR.
AND WHILE I ADMIRE HIS
COMMITMENT TO THE CAUSE, HE DOES
LOOK MORE LIKE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
IF A PIXAR DAD FUCKED THE PIXAR
LAMP.
BECAUSE I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE
THIS IS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.
BUT IT'S WORTH REMEMBERING,
FLOCK CAMERAS ARE JUST ONE PART
OF A VAST ECOSYSTEM HERE.
AND EVEN IF YOUR TOWN GETS RID
OF THEM, COPS MIGHT STILL BE
LOOKING AT CAMERAS IN PRIVATE
BUSINESSES, OR USING STINGRAYS,
OR EMPLOYING ANY OF THE OTHER
TECHNOLOGIES YOU'VE SEEN
TONIGHT.
IF YOU NOW WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S
BEING USED IN YOUR TOWN, YOU CAN
CHECK OUT RESOURCES LIKE
THE EFF'S "ATLAS OF
SURVEILLANCE", WHICH CATALOGS
EACH OF THE TECHNOLOGIES USED IN
YOUR AREA.
AND I'LL WARN YOU, THE ANSWER
PROBABLY ISN'T GOING TO MAKE YOU
HAPPY.
AND AS FOR WHAT TO DO ABOUT
THIS, EXPERTS SAY THAT, TO THE
EXTENT WE USE ANY OF THESE
TECHNOLOGIES AT ALL, WE AT THE
VERY LEAST NEED TO MAKE SURE
THEY'RE THOROUGHLY VETTED AND
DEBATED BEFORE INSTALLATION, AND
MANDATE AUDITS FOCUSED ON CIVIL
RIGHTS, CIVIL LIBERTIES,
PRIVACY, AND RACIAL JUSTICE
RISKS, TO BE CONDUCTED BOTH
BEFORE AND AFTER A TECHNOLOGY IS
ADOPTED.
AND THAT REALLY DOESN'T SEEM
LIKE TOO MUCH TO ASK, BECAUSE
THE VERY FACT THAT WE DON'T
CURRENTLY HAVE ALL THOSE
REQUIREMENTS IN PLACE IS--
WHAT'S THE BEST PHRASE TO USE
HERE?
>> THAT'S INSANE, THAT'S CRAZY.
>> John: YEAH, IT REALLY IS.
THAT'S OUR SHOW, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR WATCHING, SEE YOU NEXT
WEEK.
GOOD NIGHT!
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]
♪ ♪
>> HELLO?
HELLO?
SO ALONE