Policing

We envision a society where systems of policing and incarceration are obsolete.

We seek to expose and constrain how law enforcement uses technology to expand its reach and to drive mass incarceration. We oppose police surveillance tools and reject the idea that technology can fix the problems in policing or keep communities safe. We have resisted body-worn cameras, face recognition, predictive policing, and other surveillance tools and techniques. Among our current initiatives, we seek to limit how local law enforcement agencies use forensic tools to search people’s cellphones. We also frequently work with defense attorneys on impact litigation and with local advocates to curb police surveillance, including in our own community in DC.

Featured

Mass Extraction

Logan Koepke, Emma Weil, Urmila Janardan, Tinuola Dada and Harlan Yu

This report is the most comprehensive examination of U.S. law enforcement’s use of mobile device forensic tools. Our research shows that every American is at risk of having their phone forensically searched by law enforcement.

Latest work in this issue area

All work in this issue area

Amicus brief in Connecticut v. Smith

We filed an amicus brief in a case before the Connecticut State Supreme Court arguing that the Court should develop specific rules for the issuance and execution of cellphone search warrants.

Logan Koepke, Emma Weil, and Tinuola Dada

Testimony on MDFTs at the 2022 MPD Oversight Hearing

Tinuola testified on MPD use of mobile device forensic tools and consent searches at the 2021-2022 Metropolitan Police Department Performance Oversight Hearing.

Tinuola Dada

DC Council Testimony on the Police Budget and Surveillance Technologies

Consistent with the calls to defund the police by Black-led DC-based organizers, we testified that the District needs a new approach to public safety, including a significant reduction in taxpayer spending on police surveillance technologies.

Harlan Yu

Upturn, Inc. v. New York City Police Department

We are suing the NYPD for records concerning the department’s use of mobile device forensic technology. Upturn is represented on a pro-bono basis by Shearman & Sterling, LLP and the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.).

Logan Koepke, Emma Weil, Harlan Yu, and Urmila Janardan

Selected press and events

WIRED How Police Can Crack Locked Phones—and Extract Information

WIRED covers “Mass Extraction,” Upturn’s report on mobile device forensic tools.

New York Times The Police Can Probably Break Into Your Phone

“They’re getting a window into your soul,” said Logan Koepke. “We are placing in the hands of law enforcement something that I think is a dangerous expansion of their investigatory power.”

WIRED Body Cameras Haven't Stopped Police Brutality. Here's Why

Body-worn cameras simply haven’t served the interests of communities in most places, and primarily should be seen as a policing and surveillance tool.

Global Encryption Coalition Panel: Government Hacking

Harlan joins experts from across the field to discuss government hacking and its consequences for security and privacy.