ACLU calls for transparency about police surveillance

WASHINGTON (AP) — Bills being introduced in more than a dozen cities will aim to force police departments to disclose the surveillance technologies they use.

The American Civil Liberties Union is among the groups leading the legislative effort. Among the cities where bills will be introduced are the District of Columbia; New York; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Richmond, Virginia; and Seattle.

Advocates say in the cities where police have released data about their surveillance operations, the technology has been used disproportionately in communities of color and low-income areas. Baltimore is among those cities.

The groups want surveillance technology to be acquired and funded only with city council approval. They’re also seeking community input in how surveillance systems are funded and where they’re used.

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