Surveillance, spying, and warrantless use of technology is fast becoming one of the biggest problems in the criminal justice system. Law enforcement officers and private individuals can abuse this technology if not properly supervised and monitored.
Communities need to be a part of the discussion about how surveillance and invasive technologies are used in law enforcement. No one should be spied upon, tracked, or otherwise have their Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable search and seizure violated by law enforcement. Any use of such tools must include strong mechanisms for transparency, accountability, and oversight.
District attorneys can and should approach this issue from a place of leadership and advocacy for protection and oversight. They should also recognize and respect the rights of the people to organize, protest, and engage in other protected First Amendment speech in the streets and on the Internet.