Rhode Island ACLU Calls Out Providence 'Real Time Crime Center'

PROVIDENCE, RI — The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island expressed "deep concerns about the privacy implications" of Providence's new Real-Time Crime Center.

Steven Brown, the executive director of the ACLU of Rhode Island, and Policy Associate Madalyn McGunagle outlined their issues with the Real-Time Crime Center in a Thursday letter to Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and Police Chief Oscar Perez, the Providence City Council and City Council Chief of Staff June Rose.

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"History teaches that surveillance tools inevitably engage in mission creep, expanding their role well beyond their initial intent," Brown and McGunagle said in the letter.

"We therefore ask that, in addition to promptly strengthening departmental policies to prevent misuse of the RTCC, you support the enactment of strong privacy protections via municipal ordinance," the letter said. "By sending a copy of this letter to the members of the City Council, we are asking them to join in promoting municipal legislative safeguards and remedies to address the Orwellian threat that a pervasive surveillance system like the RTCC poses."

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On its website, the Providence Police Department claims the Real-Time Crime Center provides "officers with real-time intelligence, allowing for more informed, strategic responses rather than delaying investigations" through "existing cameras, license plate readers (LPRs), crime mapping software, social media and crime analytics platforms."

The police department also maintains that privacy is a "top priority," as the Real-Time Crime Center "follows local, state, and federal laws, and all systems have usage auditing, data retention limits, and oversight policies in place."

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The ACLU, according to the letter, appears less than convinced.

"The potential dangers of this comprehensive surveillance system are obvious andcannot be overstated," the letter said. "Your public comments about the need for strong privacy safeguards acknowledges this fact. We therefore call on you to take meaningful steps that demonstrate that privacy truly is a priority in implementing this new broad-based surveillance system in the city."

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