Activists Sue Chicago Over ‘ShotSpotter’ Gunshot Detection Tech

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The federal lawsuit against the city of Chicago calls into question law enforcement’s use of controversial gunshot detection technology to gather key evidence. A lawsuit filed this week by the MacArthur Center for Justice at Northwestern University School of Law alleges Chicago police used inaccurate and unreliable ShotSpotter technology from the company and failed to follow up on additional leads. The suit accuses police of putting “blind faith” in the alleged evidence of ShotSpotter.

lawsuit, First reported According to the Associated Press, it revolves around the death of a man in a 2020 shooting in Chicago. Police Connected. Michael Williams, a 65-year-old man, was allegedly killed using two pieces of evidence. Police have reportedly obtained silent security video of William’s car going through an intersection, which is linked to the gunshots that were allegedly detected by the ShotSpotter system. Williams was arrested in 2021 and spent a year behind bars before a judge ultimately dismissed the case after prosecutors believed they lacked sufficient evidence.

Now Williams and the MacArthur Justice Center are seeking damages. The suit is trying to force the city of Chicago to pay William for lost income, legal bills and mental anguish. Beyond the Williams case specifically, the suit also reportedly seeks class-action status for any Chicagoans who stand trial over ShotSpotter’s technology. The lawsuit also includes details of how another plaintiff, Daniel Ortiz, was arrested and taken into police custody while doing his children’s laundry.

“I come from a good family, a good family. I have children and responsibilities,” Ortiz said press release He was released by the MacArthur Justice Center. “But at that moment, all the police saw was a stereotype. I felt the police could do anything that day.”

Gizmodo was unable to independently review the allegations. We reached out to the MacArthur Justice Center for comment, but have not heard back.

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ShotSpotter technology works by deploying surveillance networks of microphones and sensors that cover specific target areas where there are believed to be high shooting incidents. In theory, those sensors could pick up the loud crack of the gun and interact with each other using AI to narrow down the exact location of where the sounds are coming from. Several major police departments in the country, including The NYPD, based in New York City, has tapped into ShotSpotter to better track the rising rate of gun crime. Activist organizations and Police reform teams they have They spoke At ShotSpotter, this is ineffective and can lead to increased and unnecessary interactions between vulnerable communities and the police. In the year In 2021 Research According to the MacArthur Justice Center, 89% of alerts recorded by the ShotSpotter system did not result in any gun-related crime.

ShotSpotter did not immediately respond to Gizmodo’s request for comment.