5 Reasons Why ‘I Have Nothing to Hide’ Is the Wrong Way to Think About Surveillance and Privacy

racial bias in prison system

Heavy Surveillance in Predominantly Black Neighborhoods

The idea of law enforcement taking the time to track every single person with a cellphone isn’t plausible — not yet anyway. But as technology continues to grow and develop and laws are not keeping up with privacy protections, officers will certainly be tapping into digital surveillance even more. When it comes down to selecting what neighborhoods and areas to focus on, there is a good chance that the heaviest surveillance will take place in predominantly Black neighborhoods. It’s a practice that the police department in Boston was already accused of back in 2013, according to a report by the American Civil Liberties Union. This would ultimately contribute to the disproportionate number of Black people being incarcerated, especially for petty crimes.