Miguel Afonso Caetano

#USA #California #PropositionE #SanFrancisco #Surveillance #PoliceState: "In other words, the SFPD could roll out an unapproved method of surveillance, and it would have free rein to operate within the city for up to a year before ever having to ask city officials for permission. And until the city passes a statute that specifically forbids it—that is, forbidding a technology that is by that point already in use—then the SFPD can keep using it indefinitely.

"Let's say the SFPD decides they want to buy a bunch of data on people's geolocation from data brokers—they could do that," says Saira Hussain, a staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). "They could use drones that are flying at all times above the city. They could use the robot dogs that were piloted at the border. These are all surveillance technologies that the police doesn't necessarily have right now, and they could acquire it and use it, effectively without any sort of accountability, under this proposition."

If those scenarios sound implausible, it's worth noting that they've already happened:" https://reason.com/2024/02/22/proposition-e-would-make-it-easier-for-police-to-surveil-san-francisco/

Proposition E Would Make It Easier for Police To Surveil San Francisco

San Francisco's Proposition E, on the ballot March 5, would turn city residents into guinea pigs for police surveillance experiments.

Reason.com
Feb 24, 2024 at 7:52amWeb
Show threadMiguel Afonso CaetanoFeb 24, 2024

"Critics also pointed to the loosening rules on use of surveillance cameras and drones by the police department as likely to compromise civil liberties.

Nash Sheard, managing director of advocacy at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said “unchecked surveillance” is not the solution to the city’s crime challenges.

“What’s the appropriate amount of time police should be allowed to violate our privacy and safety without accountability and oversight?” Sheard asked. “It seems insultingly simple that the answer should be no time ever, but a small band of tech billionaires have joined forces to raise over $1 million to convince us the answer is at least one year. San Franciscans know a scam when we see it.”

Supervisor Ahsha Safaí, who is running for mayor, also took a strong stance against the proposition during the rally.

“This is a really aggressive, racist measure that is turning back the clock on police reform and accountability,” Safaí said. “It’s bad for San Francisco but is being sold as making San Francisco safer. What it does is turn back the clock on police reform and accountability.”" https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/breed-police-ballot-measure-18682557.php