ShotSpotter's defamation suit against Vice Media dismissed by Delaware court
ShotSpotter, the company behind the AI gunshot detection system, sued Vice Media for defamation over articles alleging it alters evidence at police request. The Delaware Superior Court dismissed the lawsuit, finding the statements were substantially true or opinion. Vice Media incurred legal costs defending itself, as Delaware's anti-SLAPP law does not allow recovery of fees in this case.
- Company involved
- ShotSpotter
- AI system involved
- ShotSpotter
9 source articles · read the reporting →
ShotSpotter held in contempt over refusal to release documents
ShotSpotter, a gunshot-detection technology company, was held in contempt of court after refusing to release documents about how it assesses gunshot alerts. The case stems from a November 2021 DUI arrest in Chicago, where the defence alleges the police pulled the driver over solely based on a ShotSpotter alert. Rather than comply with a subpoena from the Cook County Public Defender Office, ShotSpotter's attorney requested the contempt order to enable an appeal. The defence sought materials on analyst qualifications, alert reclassifications, and sensor accuracy data.
- Company involved
- ShotSpotter
- AI system involved
- ShotSpotter
1 source article · read the reporting →
Chicago Police Used Altered ShotSpotter Evidence in Murder Case
In May 2020, ShotSpotter sensors detected a sound in Chicago and initially classified it as a firework. After police requested re-analysis, a ShotSpotter analyst manually reclassified the sound as a gunshot. The altered evidence was used to charge Michael Williams with murder. Williams' public defender filed a motion challenging the evidence's validity, and prosecutors subsequently withdrew the ShotSpotter evidence.
- Company involved
- Chicago Police Department
- AI system involved
- ShotSpotter
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Chicago Police Department's ShotSpotter Deployment Disproportionately Targets Black Neighborhoods
The Chicago Police Department and other cities have deployed ShotSpotter, a gunshot-detection system, almost exclusively in Black and brown neighborhoods. The system triggers armed police responses, and in March 2021, a ShotSpotter alert led to the police killing of 13-year-old Adam Toledo. Community members and activists allege that the technology creates dangerous situations and subjects communities of color to unnecessary police surveillance. ShotSpotter defends its placement based on historical gunfire data.
- Company involved
- Chicago Police Department
- AI system involved
- ShotSpotter
4 source articles · read the reporting →
Chicago class action challenges ShotSpotter's discriminatory stop-and-frisk deployments
ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system used by the Chicago Police Department, generates alerts that lead to police deployments and stop-and-frisk stops. Analyses show over 90% of alerts are unfounded, and the system is deployed only in predominantly Black and Latinx districts. A class-action lawsuit against the City of Chicago alleges the system fuels unconstitutional and discriminatory policing, including false accusations against individuals like Michael Williams.
- Company involved
- City of Chicago
- AI system involved
- ShotSpotter
7 source articles · read the reporting →
Durham's ShotSpotter fails to detect two deadly shootings
ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system piloted by the Durham Police Department, failed to detect two fatal shootings in February 2023, as well as a New Year's Day shooting that injured five. The system, which uses sensors and human review to alert police, did not send alerts for these incidents within its three-square-mile coverage area. The company stated it investigated and provided a report to the police, while a city official defended the pilot, noting it is still early in the year-long trial. Community concerns have been raised about increased police presence and potential racial profiling.
- Company involved
- Durham Police Department
- AI system involved
- ShotSpotter
5 source articles · read the reporting →
ShotSpotter Missed 47% of Gunshot Victims in Chicago Police Data
Between October 2017 and July 2018, a Chicago police analyst tracked ShotSpotter's accuracy in the 10th district and found it correctly detected only 63 of 135 shootings where a person was struck, a 47% rate. The analyst shared the findings with CPD and ShotSpotter, and the company installed additional sensors, but accuracy remained below 50%. Despite this, the city signed a $33 million contract extension. SoundThinking says the system meets performance guarantees and has helped locate hundreds of victims.
- Company involved
- Chicago Police Department
- AI system involved
- ShotSpotter
1 source article · read the reporting →
NYPD's ShotSpotter Gunshot Detection System Found Largely Inaccurate, Wasting Resources
An audit by the New York City Comptroller found that ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system used by the NYPD, is overwhelmingly inaccurate. Only 13 percent of alerts in June 2023 corresponded to confirmed shootings, and the system missed over 200 real gunfire incidents in Manhattan in 2022. The NYPD has spent more than $45 million on the system since 2015. The comptroller advised against renewing the contract until the system can be fully evaluated.
- Company involved
- New York Police Department
- AI system involved
- ShotSpotter
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Houston's ShotSpotter system delays police response and over-polices minority communities
Houston Police Department deployed ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system, in Southeast and Northwest Houston starting in late 2020. The system alerts police to suspected gunfire, but over 80% of alerts are unfounded. This has led to longer response times for other calls and increased police presence in predominantly Black and brown neighborhoods, causing anxiety and concerns of over-policing. Critics argue the technology has not reduced gun violence and diverts resources from more effective strategies.
- Company involved
- Houston Police Department
- AI system involved
- ShotSpotter
7 source articles · read the reporting →
