Little Rock's Surveillance Tech: A Step Back for Public Awareness

The Little Rock Board of Directors recently turned down a proposal that aimed to bring more openness about the police department's use of surveillance tools. This decision has sparked discussions about transparency and community trust. The rejected ordinance, backed by At-Large Director Antwan Phillips, would have required the police to share annual reports on their surveillance activities. It also wanted big tech contracts to be discussed one by one, not grouped together in a list of routine items. Concerns about surveillance tech, like cameras and license plate readers, have been growing. People worry about how their data is being collected and used. In April, the board approved a contract with ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection service, despite public outcry. LRPD Chief Heath Helton said the department already does most of what the ordinance asked for. He argued that adding more reports would slow things down. He also mentioned that the department is working on a transparency portal with Flock Safety, the company behind the license plate readers. However, critics point out that the technology scans every car, not just those linked to crimes. This means even innocent people's data is being collected. The Electronic Frontier Foundation found that the Little Rock Police Department had searched data related to peaceful protests. Some board members, like Ward 7 Director B. J. Wyrick, dismissed public concerns as misunderstandings fueled by the internet. Others, like Directors Virgil Miller and Andrea Lewis, questioned why the police chief was against the ordinance if he supports transparency. The vote was close, with only three directors voting in favor of the ordinance. The split also highlighted racial lines, with all Black directors voting for it and all white directors voting against it.