Privacy and legal experts are applauding the Toronto Police Service’s decision to abandon plans for a citywide gunshot detection system, after consultations brought to light potential legal concerns about the software – concerns advocates say they raised from the start.
The system, known as ShotSpotter, uses a network of rooftop microphones to pinpoint the exact location of a shooting and then alert police. The technology, which is used in several U.S. cities, was green-lit by Toronto city council last summer, following a sharp increase in gun violence, including the attack on Danforth Avenue.