
The "Doom Loop" narrative just killed privacy in San Francisco. đđď¸ We investigate Proposition E, the controversial 2024 ballot measure where voters dismantled the city's landmark surveillance oversight laws. We break down how fear of crime led a progressive city to give police unchecked access to drones, facial recognition, and private cameras.
1. The Panic Vote: We analyze the data. Despite crime rates actually falling, the perception of lawlessnessâfueled by viral videos of smash-and-grabsâdrove voters to approve Prop E by 54% . We explain how this measure allows police to deploy "experimental" surveillance tech for a full year without any public oversight or city council approval .
2. The "Flock" Dragnet: Itâs not just public cameras; itâs a private web. We expose the role of Flock Safety, a company installing AI license plate readers that track vehicle movements citywide. We discuss the privacy nightmare of creating a "searchable database of daily life," where police can trace your travel history without a warrant, effectively turning every car into a tracking beacon .
3. The Drone State: We explore the new rules of engagement. Prop E authorizes police to use drones for high-speed chases and active surveillance, removing previous bans on facial recognition integration. We ask: did San Francisco trade its civil liberties for a false sense of security, or is this the necessary future of policing in a tech-saturated world? .