On Monday, a city in Massachusetts made the decision to terminate its agreement with ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system employed by police to pinpoint potential shootings in real-time.
This crime-fighting tool utilizes a series of acoustic sensors installed above city streets, designed to identify sounds resembling gunfire. Upon detecting such noises, the system automatically notifies law enforcement agencies.
The Cambridge City Council’s vote to end the contract comes amid criticism from detractors who claim the technology is often unreliable and may lead to excessive policing. Additionally, there are concerns about its possible connection to federal immigration enforcement efforts.
This development in Cambridge follows a similar decision made by Chicago in February 2024, where the city also chose not to renew its contract with the technology provider, highlighting a growing trend of resistance among various cities regarding its implementation.
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A ShotSpotter gunshot detection device is mounted on a light pole. (Photo by Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
According to Boston.com, five Cambridge city councilors voted to terminate the contract, while two opposed the measure and two voted present during this week’s council meeting.
Under the decision, the city manager and police department must discontinue use of ShotSpotter within 90 days, and the devices will be removed from locations around Cambridge, the outlet said.
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The system is operated by Soundthinking, which says the technology is designed to save lives, expedite police response and help investigators to recover more evidence, with alerts relayed to law enforcement within 60 seconds.
During Monday’s meeting, Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang and acting Police Commissioner Pauline Wells supported keeping ShotSpotter in place, with the police citing 11 incidents when the system did detect gunfire but did not receive 911 calls.
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Massachusetts State Police troopers on Memorial Drive after a shooting May 11, in Cambridge, Mass. (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Critics, however, say the technology lacks sufficient independent scientific validation, pointing to reported false positives and arguing it can be triggered by other loud noises such as car backfires.
They also noted that SoundThinking operates a law enforcement database that allegedly is related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an agenda which is considered deeply unpopular in Cambridge.
Councilor Ayah Al-Zubi, a co-sponsor of the resolution calling to decommission ShotSpotter, said the arrangement raises broader concerns about data sharing.
“It does pose a privacy and safety risk for residents, especially when the federal government has a relationship with the company and it’s not reliable,” Al-Zubi said. “There was once a time, over a decade ago, where there was an interest in this technology, but now we know more about its effectiveness and its consequences.”
An aerial view of Harvard University and the Charles River in Cambridge, with the Boston skyline in the background. (Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images)
The company responded to the accusations in a statement to the Boston Globe, defending the effectiveness of its technology.
“SoundThinking is proud to have successfully served the Cambridge Police Department and the citizens of Cambridge with gunshot detection services since 2014,” the company said.
“ShotSpotter is proven, unbiased technology that detects and alerts police to gunfire, enabling faster response, evidence collection, and lifesaving medical aid, all the while preserving privacy. We remain committed to working with communities, like Cambridge, that share our belief that every resident deserves those protections against gun violence.”
