The locations of microphones used to detect gunshots have been kept hidden from police and the public. A WIRED analysis of leaked coordinates confirms arguments critics have made against the technology.
  • PowerCrazyEnglish
    29·
    10 months ago

    The only problem ShotSpotter solves is not enough public money into private hands. What information does it actually give the police, even assuming that it is 100% accurate?
    At a certain time and place a gun was fired. Great? Who cares. That isn’t worth $1million/mo.
    If there are 3 people in the general location and time that a gun was fired, what has shotspotter done to help?

    Fortunately Chicago is getting rid of this finally. https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2024/02/22/shotspotter-contract-cost-mayor-brandon-johnson-cancel-extension-summer

    • bionicjoey@lemmy.ca
      5·
      10 months ago

      People usually call in shots fired. So all they’ve done is create an expensive device that maybe tells them a bit sooner than a concerned citizen.

      • JillyB@beehaw.org
        4·
        10 months ago

        This is where I disagree. I think a transparent, publicly run system to triangulate gunshots is actually a great idea. As long as the microphones are placed evenly throughout a city, they can instantly let police know where and when a gunshot happened.

        However, with no way to publicly verify the fairness of the a private system, there’s only one way this could go.

        • bionicjoey@lemmy.ca
          3·
          10 months ago

          Doesn’t triangulation get fucked up by the presence of buildings? I don’t imagine these give much more precision, even in the ideal situation you describe.

          • Flumpkin@slrpnk.net
            1·
            10 months ago

            I imagine that theoretically you could have algorithms or machine learning to calibrate this. Like make test sounds so you see how the sound diffuses and then filter it out.

  • ReverendIrreverenceEnglish
    18·
    10 months ago

    Maybe I missed it but the article actually does not tell/show you where these secret locations are. A red dot on a map that doesn’t zoom in well enough is kinda useless.

    • HumanPerson@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      15·
      10 months ago

      Whether the mics would pick it up would depend on if you use supersonic bullets. They would sense that they are shutting off for some reason though.

      Edit: If you shoot one but another is in range to pick it up then it would. This is starting to sound like a cs problem.

      • frogmint@beehaw.org
        1·
        10 months ago

        Depends, some loads are subsonic especially for suppressor use. I’m looking at you, 300BLK

      • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        2·
        10 months ago

        Suppressors aren’t movie quiet, they just bring down the noise to make it hearing safe.

        This leads me to wonder, would a suppressor actually trick these machines, does it have to be supersonic to pick it up?

        And, what happens when someone near a sensor needs a new roof? Roofers constantly harassed by cops? “Not allowed to use .22 cal nail guns?” Would this thing not pick up Ramsets?