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·
    9 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·
      9 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·
        9 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·
          9 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·
            9 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·
    9 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·
      9 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·
        9 months ago

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

      • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        2·
        9 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?