Many cities are receiving large sums of federal grant money in order fund protection programs; however, the city of Oakland, California has redirected their funds into collecting and analyzing “big data” (large amounts of data). This surveillance data ranges from gun-shot detection to license plate retrieval data.

The new program gives the city the ability to monitor everything from social media posts to toll payments. In the past, Oakland has purchased surveillance technology in hopes of decreasing crime rates but have not seen results. The big data project will give Oakland an opportunity to link its gunshot detection, license plate reader and camera data to a central location. The culmination of data will allow them to have better leads.

This is not an isolated incident. It reflects the growing idea that government is using technology is being used to track various aspects of life reflected in the recent NSA telephone scandal. This technology has even found its way to the NYPD and various law enforcement bodies across the United States including police in Texas.

More specifically, the NYPD has used its connected big data system to link everything from license plates to radiation sensors and even to terror suspect lists. Likewise, police in Texas have even purchased a drone with money from homeland security. One same drone initiative existed in Oakland but was quickly shut down due to ethical concerns. The data gathered would not only be crime related but will also compile day-to-day information on law abiding citizens. Many individuals have opposed the use of technology in data gathering, labeling it as, “warrantless surveillance.”

However, this big data system could push the nation towards a more complete intelligence gathering as opposed to the sparse information used to convict criminals now.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/14/technology/privacy-fears-as-surveillance-grows-in-cities.html