Open AccessPUBLIC POLICY MEETS PUBLIC SURVEILLANCE
Author(s) -
Sharon Strover,
María Esteva,
Tiancheng Cao,
Soyoung Park
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
selected papers of internet research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2162-3317
DOI - 10.5210/spir.v2021i0.12247
Subject(s) - variety (cybernetics) , the internet , public policy , politics , public relations , government (linguistics) , perspective (graphical) , state (computer science) , smart city , open government , local government , frame (networking) , political science , business , public administration , open data , internet privacy , internet of things , engineering , computer science , world wide web , telecommunications , linguistics , philosophy , algorithm , artificial intelligence , law
This research examines cases of several ‘smart cities’ deployingcamera technologies, particularly those augmented by AI and video data capture. Constituentgroups including technology companies, city government employees, and a variety of citizengroups both directly and indirectly shape the policies for using these systems and the datathey produce, presaging how society might deal with the escalating presence of the Internetof Things. The social shaping of technology approach contributes to the research'sconceptual foundations while a political economy perspective frames a consideration of theethical dynamics in play. The study investigates how seven urban communities frame andarticulate the values and dangers of such systems operating in networked environments. Usingarchival data from official documents, the press, local and State ordinances, the studyconcludes that police interests have been significant drivers of these systems, alongsidenew environmental and management promises for improved cost savings. Public engagementpractices vary, but in general are either nonexistent or anemic. Oversight practiceslikewise are under-developed. provides a descriptive picture of how cities view andexperience this surveillance infrastructure and highlights of the policy problems associatedwith the city surveillance systems.