The Rhode Island ACLU contends the City of Providence is moving too quickly in implementing an integrated surveillance center, adding that without additional safeguards, the system poses an Orwellian threat.
In a letter to Mayor Brett Smiley and Police Chief Oscar Perez, the civil liberties group calls on city officials to enact a municipal ordinance protecting privacy rights.
The two city officials announced Sunday the launch of the city’s Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), funded by a $1 million grant secured by U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, and touted as a way to enhance public safety while protecting civil liberties.
The RTCC integrates footage from drones, plate readers and privately owned camera feeds.
In a news release marking the launch of the new center, the Providence officials said, “Privacy is a top priority in the design and operation of the RTCC, which complies with all local, state and federal laws. It includes strict oversight policies, data retention limits and usage auditing to prevent misuse.”
But the ACLU says given what it cites as a lack of current statutes providing privacy protection, the guarantee of compliance with all local, state and federal laws is “a largely empty gesture.”
The civil liberties group said the RTCC is authorized for use not just in connection with serious crimes, but also suspicious behavior.
In a statement, the ACLU said that “it has continually raised objections to increasing surveillance technology use by police, including the city’s Flock Safety license plate readers, which have the capability to track individuals across cities and states, and have been used elsewhere for immigration enforcement purposes.”
The ACLU letter points out that “even if Providence does not use the license plate readers for such purposes, the data is shared with other police departments that can provide the information to Immigration and Customers Enforcement and other agencies.”
In a statement Friday, Smiley spokesman Josh Estrella said, “The City is aware of the ACLU’s release. Privacy is a top priority for the Providence Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center. Participation in the system is entirely voluntary, with community partners having full control over what video feeds are shared, and access is granted only with consent.”
Estrella added, “The RTCC does not conduct 24/7 live surveillance of the community, complies with all local, state and federal laws and includes strict oversight policies, data retention limits and usage auditing to prevent misuse. Shared footage is used only to respond to active criminal incidents or public safety emergencies, ensuring public safety while maintaining transparency and accountability to the community.”
This story has been updated with the city’s response.
