The Rise of Big Data Policing: Surveillance, Race, and the Future of Law Enforcement

In a time where police departments are increasingly under scrutiny for their tactics and facing serious allegations of racial bias in policing, departments are turning to "data-driven policing": the use of data and algorithms to determine when, where, how, and who to police. Indeed, Ferguson's (law, David A. Clarke Sch. of Law, Univ. of the District of Columbia; Why Jury Duty Matters) timely book does describe how technology can help improve police accountability. It also describes how, far from being neutral and objective, these technologies can serve to mask and even amplify bias and discrimination. Ferguson explains with great clarity how the prejudices and inequities in the "real world" end up reflected in the algorithms behind these predictive policing technologies. His writing is clear and engaging without sacrificing depth and detail.