Law Enforcement in the Age of Big Data and Surveillance Intermediaries: Transparency Challenges

(2017) 14:2 SCRIPTed 239-284 DOI: 10.2966/scrip.140217.239

Ottawa Faculty of Law Working Paper No. 2018-04

46 Pages Posted: 22 Dec 2017

See all articles by Teresa Scassa

Teresa Scassa

University of Ottawa - Common Law Section

Date Written: December 10, 2017

Abstract

In October 2016 Geofeedia made the news when it was reported that police services in North America had contracted with it for data analytics based on georeferenced information posted to social media websites such as Twitter and Facebook. Geofeedia is not the only data analytics company to mine social media data and to market its services to government authorities. These activities raise important issues around the transparency of state surveillance activities, as well as the targeting of protesters exercising their constitutional rights to free speech. This paper examines how the public sector reliance on purchased georeferenced data and analytics changes the dynamics of transparency of government action and calls for new measures and approaches.

Keywords: big data, transparency, data analytics, privacy, social media, social media data analytics, police, surveillance

Suggested Citation

Scassa, Teresa, Law Enforcement in the Age of Big Data and Surveillance Intermediaries: Transparency Challenges (December 10, 2017). (2017) 14:2 SCRIPTed 239-284 DOI: 10.2966/scrip.140217.239 , Ottawa Faculty of Law Working Paper No. 2018-04, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3089848

Teresa Scassa (Contact Author)

University of Ottawa - Common Law Section ( email )

57 Louis Pasteur Street
Ottawa, K1N 6N5
Canada
6135625800x3872 (Phone)
6135645124 (Fax)

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