Denver's Growing Surveillance Network: A Closer Look at Privacy Concerns

Denver is rapidly expanding its surveillance network, raising concerns about privacy and the potential misuse of data. The city's partnership with Flock Safety, a company that provides license-plate reader cameras, has already led to over 1, 400 immigration-related searches in a span of just 10 months. This data is not just used for immigration purposes; it's accessible to various agencies, putting everyone in the city at risk of unfair searches and privacy violations. The city's administration has been maneuvering to keep these cameras operational without full council approval. After public backlash, the city council rejected a $666, 000 contract expansion, but the administration signed a shorter amendment for about $498, 500, just under the threshold for council approval. They also announced a separate five-month “no-cost” bridge to keep the cameras running through March 31, 2026, again without a council vote. These surveillance systems require immense computing power, leading to a boom in data centers. In Elyria-Swansea, a new data-center campus is being built that will consume a significant amount of electricity and water. This raises questions about the environmental impact and the need for such massive data centers in our neighborhoods. The mayor's office should be more transparent about these contracts and add safeguards to prevent misuse of data. They should also consider the environmental impact of data centers and ensure that they are not overburdening our neighborhoods. Instead of focusing on surveillance, the city should invest in things that actually make people safe, such as affordable housing, frequent transit, and community health clinics. Every dollar spent on bulk tracking is a dollar not spent on these essential services. The city should also involve the Surveillance Technology Task Force and the council in any decisions about surveillance technology. They should respect the oversight they have created and ensure that these technologies are used responsibly.