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Surveillance

Analysis
The High-Tech Tools Police Can Use to Surveil Protesters
When Americans take to the streets to make their voices heard, they’re inevitably dragging their digital trails right along behind them.
A grid of illustrations representing eight different surveillance technologies. In the top row, from the left, there is an illustration of a figure walking, overlaid with yellow tracking lines; a surveillance camera, an arm with a tattoo highlighted by a yellow box; and a police vehicle with an antenna attached to a panel. The second row, from the left, shows an illustration of a location pin inside a ring of cell phones; a laptop with a fishing pole coming out of it with an icon of a person on the hook; the Instagram logo of a camera icon within a closeup of an eye, and a solar panel on a pole with a surveillance camera with a spotlight on a car. The color scheme of the illustration primarily includes blue and yellow tones with a black gradient.
An illustration shows a scene of protesters walking through a city, near other people who are not protesting. Around them are surveillance cameras, a drone and a police vehicle with an antenna. Two protesters in the foreground are wearing medical masks, one protester has a tattoo and another is holding a phone in her hand. The color scheme of the illustration features blue tones. Yellow boxes and lines highlight different ways a person can be surveilled.
Analysis November 12
The Real Problem With Banning Masks at Protests
Privacy advocates worry banning masks at protests will encourage harassment, while cops’ high-tech tools render the rules unnecessary.
By
Cleveland March 21
Cleveland Promised Oversight of Police Surveillance. The Work Hasn’t Been Done.
In 2022, Mayor Bibb pledged to form a panel to address concerns over cameras and high-tech tools. It’s finally set to happen.
By
A detective sits in a CCTV control room, reviewing multiple videos captured by different surveillance cameras.
Closing Argument January 13
More Police Are Using Your Cameras for Video Evidence
Police “nerve centers” are blurring the line between public and private surveillance.
By
A black and white drone, with a police emblem on it, flies around a crime scene. The background is out of focus, with officers standing behind yellow tape and by a parked police car.
Closing Argument July 29, 2023
It’s a Bird. It’s a Plane. It’s the Police Responding to a 911 Call.
Police are using more drones, raising concerns about surveillance and privacy.
By
An illustration shows a person using a flashlight to shine light on a security camera. Buildings and additional security cameras are featured in the background.
Cleveland September 28, 2022
Cleveland Has Spent Millions on Police Cameras. Why Are the Locations a Secret?
The city cites citizen safety as a reason for shielding information, but has no policies on use of surveillance technology.
By and
News January 28, 2020
Trade Your Prison Sentence for a Smartwatch?
Another dubious get-out-early offer is spreading through federal prisons. Lawyers say it’s a fake.
By
Self-made photo by Marshall Project participant James Baimbridge.
Life Inside October 28, 2019
My GPS-Tracked Life on Parole
“Even in prison, I didn’t feel so overwhelmed with worry about doing something wrong when I’m doing everything right.”
By James Baimbridge as told to Beatrix Lockwood, The Marshall Project
News September 28, 2018
How to Leak Stories to The Marshall Project
Your guide to becoming a source
By The Marshall Project
Justice Lab May 24, 2018
Your Home is Your...Snitch?
When your appliances work as police informants.
By Daniel Zwerdling
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