TL;DR: Cities spend millions deploying ShotSpotter to detect gunshots. Nearly 70% of alerts are false alarms—often triggered by fireworks, trash trucks, or construction. Meanwhile over-policed communities, especially Black and Brown neighborhoods, see increased police presence, not safety. And nobody demands change.

The Data Doesn’t Lie

• Boston records show nearly 70% of alerts produced no evidence of gunfire, and 16% were clearly fireworks or other noises.
• Chicago saw over 50,000 alerts in 2021, but fewer than 10% involved actual shootings.
• Cities continue contracts because they can blame crime tech instead of policing policy.

The Impact is Real (Mostly Negative)

• Police launch raids where no crime happened.
• Residents experience terror instead of protection.
• Politicians brag about public safety spending while ignoring harms.

TL;DR

• ShotSpotter is expensive, inaccurate, and punitive.
• Designed for surveillance, not safety.
• Deployed disproportionately in minority communities.
• No transparency. No accountability.

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Posted by someone who hears more alarms than actual violence.