Hacking Local Politics: How We Banned Facial Recognition in Minneapolis

Saturday, July 23, 2022: 12:00 pm (DAC 416ABC): The lines between technology and society are becoming blurred to the point of nonexistence. The software we build oftentimes has more impact on the day to day lives of ordinary people than the laws pass...

Saturday, July 23, 2022: 12:00 pm (DAC 416ABC): The lines between technology and society are becoming blurred to the point of nonexistence. The software we build oftentimes has more impact on the day to day lives of ordinary people than the laws passed by local governments. For reasons both practical and moral, it is becoming increasingly important for those of us with technical expertise to become more involved with the political process.

But if we want to move beyond armchair activism, we need to understand the system we are trying to hack. Drawing on the panelists' recent experiences with passing an ordinance banning the government's use of facial recognition in Minneapolis, and their work creating the Safety Not Surveillance Coalition, this presentation will offer concrete steps on how you can transfer technical expertise into effective political change.

Munira Mohamed
Chris Weiland