According to Oakland protesters, they are close to victory
in their fight to take control of law enforcement surveillance. Police spying
in the California port city have been heavily criticised by residents. Now,
they are campaigning to regulate the purchase and use of surveillance equipment
by law enforcement agencies.
The approval of the legislation they push could make
Oakland the first country to be alarmed and protest against the rising number
of cameras and other surveillance technologies used by law enforcement
agencies. The activists are also hopeful that the privacy advisory committee
members would draft their city ordinance on surveillance.
According to Oakland residents, the move was much awaited.
The Occupy Oakland protests have begun from 2012 to
2013. The California Government had planned to link an estimated 700 cameras
throughout the city with license plate readers, shot spotters and other
surveillance equipment. The link will allow law enforcement to have real time
access to data.
While law enforcement agencies contest that Oakland
has 8,000 violent crimes for a population close to 404,000, protesters said the
surveillance will not lower the crime rate. They believe it to be the excuse of
law enforcement to increase surveillance programs in the city.
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