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Incident 112: Police Departments Reported ShotSpotter as Unreliable and Wasteful

Description: ShotSpotter algorithmic systems locating gunshots were reported by police departments for containing high false positive rates and wasting police resources, prompting discontinuation.

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Entities

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Alleged: ShotSpotter developed an AI system deployed by Troy Police Department , Syracuse Police Department , San Francisco Police Department , San Antonio Police Department , New York City Police Department , Fall River Police Department and Chicago Police Department, which harmed Troy Police Department , Syracuse Police Department , San Francisco Police Department , San Antonio Police Department , New York City Police Department , Fall River Police Department , Chicago Police Department , Troy residents , Syracuse residents , San Francisco residents , San Antonio residents , New York City residents , Fall River residents and Chicago Residents.

Incident Stats

Incident ID
112
Report Count
15
Incident Date
2012-10-09
Editors
Sean McGregor, Khoa Lam
Applied Taxonomies
GMF, CSETv1, MIT

CSETv1 Taxonomy Classifications

Taxonomy Details

Incident Number

The number of the incident in the AI Incident Database.
 

112

GMF Taxonomy Classifications

Taxonomy Details

Known AI Goal Snippets

One or more snippets that justify the classification.
 

(Snippet Text: The system was suppose to become attuned to the way sounds were heard in Troy's streets and differentiate among the brakes of a truck climbing the Hoosic Street hill, from a firecracker, actual shots and any other noise., Related Classifications: Gunshot Detection), (Snippet Text: It was expected to take a full year to fine-tune the acoustic devices so it would pick out the gunshots from other sounds. Tedesco said that never occurred. , Related Classifications: Gunshot Detection), (Snippet Text: The system records all loud noises, Greene said. The computer uses at least three microphones to locate the gunshot within a 25-meter radius. Then, at SST’s location in Newark, staff reviews each report to make sure the computer flags only gunshots., Related Classifications: Audio Localization, Snippet Discussion: Does the staff just curate data for learning?)

MIT Taxonomy Classifications

Machine-Classified
Taxonomy Details

Risk Subdomain

A further 23 subdomains create an accessible and understandable classification of hazards and harms associated with AI
 

7.3. Lack of capability or robustness

Risk Domain

The Domain Taxonomy of AI Risks classifies risks into seven AI risk domains: (1) Discrimination & toxicity, (2) Privacy & security, (3) Misinformation, (4) Malicious actors & misuse, (5) Human-computer interaction, (6) Socioeconomic & environmental harms, and (7) AI system safety, failures & limitations.
 
  1. AI system safety, failures, and limitations

Entity

Which, if any, entity is presented as the main cause of the risk
 

AI

Timing

The stage in the AI lifecycle at which the risk is presented as occurring
 

Post-deployment

Intent

Whether the risk is presented as occurring as an expected or unexpected outcome from pursuing a goal
 

Unintentional

Incident Reports

Reports Timeline

+1
Troy will turn off ShotSpotter
Courtroom testimony reveals accuracy of SF gunshot sensors a ‘marketing’ ploySan Antonio police cut pricey gunshot detection systemAfter too many shots missed, Fall River officially ends deal with ShotSpotter+1
ShotSpotter Generated Over 40,000 Dead-End Police Deployments in Chicago in 21 Months, According to New Study
+2
NYC, Chicago Waste Millions on Gunshot Detection Technology, Report Says
+2
Portland to change course, accept competitive bids for gunshot detection pilot
+2
Shots in the dark
Troy will turn off ShotSpotter

Troy will turn off ShotSpotter

timesunion.com

Courtroom testimony reveals accuracy of SF gunshot sensors a ‘marketing’ ploy

Courtroom testimony reveals accuracy of SF gunshot sensors a ‘marketing’ ploy

sfexaminer.com

San Antonio police cut pricey gunshot detection system

San Antonio police cut pricey gunshot detection system

expressnews.com

After too many shots missed, Fall River officially ends deal with ShotSpotter

After too many shots missed, Fall River officially ends deal with ShotSpotter

heraldnews.com

ShotSpotter Generated Over 40,000 Dead-End Police Deployments in Chicago in 21 Months, According to New Study

ShotSpotter Generated Over 40,000 Dead-End Police Deployments in Chicago in 21 Months, According to New Study

macarthurjustice.org

Four Problems with the ShotSpotter Gunshot Detection System

Four Problems with the ShotSpotter Gunshot Detection System

aclu.org

NYC, Chicago Waste Millions on Gunshot Detection Technology, Report Says

NYC, Chicago Waste Millions on Gunshot Detection Technology, Report Says

bloomberg.com

Report: ShotSpotter wastes officers time, provides little help in court, targets overpoliced communities

Report: ShotSpotter wastes officers time, provides little help in court, targets overpoliced communities

syracuse.com

Report Evaluates Efficiency of Gunshot Detection Technology

Report Evaluates Efficiency of Gunshot Detection Technology

govtech.com

Portland to change course, accept competitive bids for gunshot detection pilot

Portland to change course, accept competitive bids for gunshot detection pilot

opb.org

ShotSpotter Employees Not Only Have The Power To Alter Gunshot Reports, But Do It Nearly 10% Of The Time

ShotSpotter Employees Not Only Have The Power To Alter Gunshot Reports, But Do It Nearly 10% Of The Time

techdirt.com

Gunshot detection system gets mixed reviews nationally

Gunshot detection system gets mixed reviews nationally

benitolink.com

Shots in the dark

Shots in the dark

chicagoreader.com

Audit Report on the New York City Police Department’s Oversight of Its Agreement with ShotSpotter Inc. for the Gunshot Detection and Location System

Audit Report on the New York City Police Department’s Oversight of Its Agreement with ShotSpotter Inc. for the Gunshot Detection and Location System

comptroller.nyc.gov

Gunshot Detection System Wastes N.Y.P.D. Officers’ Time, Audit Finds

Gunshot Detection System Wastes N.Y.P.D. Officers’ Time, Audit Finds

nytimes.com

Troy will turn off ShotSpotter
timesunion.com · 2012

TROY — The cops on the beat, the brass and the mayor all agree that the high-tech listening system that's supposed to identify the location of gunshots is ineffective.

That's why the city has decided to get rid of the ShotSpotter system at …

Courtroom testimony reveals accuracy of SF gunshot sensors a ‘marketing’ ploy
sfexaminer.com · 2017

The accuracy of gunshot detection technology used by San Francisco police has been called into question as part of an attempted murder trial of a man accused of shooting at a car full of people in 2016.

While the trial of Michael Reed in co…

San Antonio police cut pricey gunshot detection system
expressnews.com · 2017

In his campaign to win re-election and convince voters he was tough on crime, Councilman Alan Warrick never missed a chance to bring up ShotSpotter, a pricey gunfire detection system he championed for his East Side district.

Of the 10 counc…

After too many shots missed, Fall River officially ends deal with ShotSpotter
heraldnews.com · 2018

The Fall River Police Department and ShotSpotter, the $120,000-a-year gunshot detection system, have officially parted ways.

FALL RIVER - The Fall River Police Department and ShotSpotter, the $120,000-a-year gunshot detection system, have o…

ShotSpotter Generated Over 40,000 Dead-End Police Deployments in Chicago in 21 Months, According to New Study
macarthurjustice.org · 2021

MacArthur Justice Center study finds City’s use of ShotSpotter is inaccurate, expensive and dangerous

CHICAGO – A new study of Chicago’s use of ShotSpotter, a surveillance system designed to detect gunfire, finds that the vast majority of a…

Four Problems with the ShotSpotter Gunshot Detection System
aclu.org · 2021

(Updated below)

A critical report on the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system issued today by the City of Chicago’s Inspector General (IG) is the latest indication of deep problems with the gunshot detection company and its technology, incl…

NYC, Chicago Waste Millions on Gunshot Detection Technology, Report Says
bloomberg.com · 2022

The New York City and Chicago police departments spend millions of dollars a year on gunshot detection technology that a privacy group argues is ineffective and invasive.

The departments pay ShotSpotter Inc. for technology that uses microph…

Report: ShotSpotter wastes officers time, provides little help in court, targets overpoliced communities
syracuse.com · 2022

Syracuse, N.Y. – A report came out last week that criticizes gunshot detection technology used by cities across the country - including Syracuse - as ineffective, wasting officers’ time and targeting overpoliced communities.

The Surveillan…

Report Evaluates Efficiency of Gunshot Detection Technology
govtech.com · 2022

(TNS) — A report came out last week that criticizes gunshot detection technology used by cities across the country - including Syracuse - as ineffective, wasting officers’ time and targeting overpoliced communities.

The Surveillance Technol…

Portland to change course, accept competitive bids for gunshot detection pilot
opb.org · 2023

Portland city officials last week quietly reversed course on a decision to avoid a competitive bid process and launch a gunshot detection pilot program with ShotSpotter, a company critics say dramatically oversells its capabilities.

Portlan…

ShotSpotter Employees Not Only Have The Power To Alter Gunshot Reports, But Do It Nearly 10% Of The Time
techdirt.com · 2023

What’s being presented by ShotSpotter as good news for people who feel they’ve been wrongly accused, doesn’t actually appear to be all that comforting.

ShotSpotter’s mic tech and AI combine forces to report possible gunshots to law enforcem…

Gunshot detection system gets mixed reviews nationally
benitolink.com · 2023

The Shotspotter acoustic gunshot detection system will eventually come back to Hollister City Council for a vote. If approved, the first year will cost nearly $50,000 to monitor one square mile of the city.

Editor’s note: This article was u…

Shots in the dark
chicagoreader.com · 2024

In 2017, Chicago police began to slowly expand a vast network of microphones mounted atop lampposts and utility poles---the electronic ears of the controversial gunshot detection technology ShotSpotter. This coincided with the creation of n…

Audit Report on the New York City Police Department’s Oversight of Its Agreement with ShotSpotter Inc. for the Gunshot Detection and Location System
comptroller.nyc.gov · 2024

Audit Impact

Summary of Findings

The audit found that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) ensures that the billing, invoices, and payments to ShotSpotter are accurate, and that ShotSpotter generally meets its currently specified cont…

Gunshot Detection System Wastes N.Y.P.D. Officers’ Time, Audit Finds
nytimes.com · 2024

ShotSpotter, a system the Police Department uses to detect gunfire, is overwhelmingly inaccurate and leads officers to spend hundreds of hours each month investigating nonexistent shots, according to an audit the New York City comptroller r…

Variants

A "variant" is an incident that shares the same causative factors, produces similar harms, and involves the same intelligent systems as a known AI incident. Rather than index variants as entirely separate incidents, we list variations of incidents under the first similar incident submitted to the database. Unlike other submission types to the incident database, variants are not required to have reporting in evidence external to the Incident Database. Learn more from the research paper.

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