Police and Human Rights

Concepts of Risk Society
- The application of actuarial and database logics aimed at predicting human actions.
- These models involve understanding actions as predictable and ultimately actionable.
Creation of Data Double
- Definition: A data double is an electronic profile compiled from personal data fragments of an individual.
- It holds increasing social significance as it is used for assessments and judgments in various contexts.
- Examples: National security, local policing.
Human Rights Consideration
- Discussion on whether data doubles possess human rights: Most respond negatively.

Surveillance Context
- Individuals are increasingly surveyed online, with metadata captured from every online action (also known as digital footprint).
- Engagement in sharing personal digital experiences regarding surveillance is discouraged.
Extraction of Metadata
- Metadata is drawn from various online activities to create risk profiles aimed at preempting crime.

Contemporary Examples
- Reference to the U.S. government using social media profiles to identify potential risks associated with specific individuals, such as immigrants or those critical of authority.

Social Sorting and Criminalization
- Data doubles result in social sorting where marginalized individuals are monitored and subjected to preemptive policing.
- CCTV Camera Usage
- Defined by John Fiske as a technology often targeting racialized communities, reinforcing negative stereotypes about 'legitimate' versus 'illegitimate' users of space.

Actuarial Logic vs. Precautionary Logic
- Crime prevention strategies often influenced by public fear and anxiety rather than purely risk assessments.
Surveillance as a Social Sorting Mechanism
- Racialized individuals are disproportionately scrutinized through technologies and policing methods that categorize them as higher risk.

Colonial Policing
- Historical emergence from British policing models aimed at controlling Indigenous populations and enforcing social order in favor of colonial interests.
Modern Policing Strategies
- Transition towards neoliberal approaches in policing, emphasizing order maintenance for capitalist interests over community safety and rights.

Instances of Police Misconduct
- Examples include the deaths of individuals such as Trayvon Martin and George Floyd, illustrating systemic racial bias in policing practices.
- Highlighting the challenges faced by marginalized communities in their interactions with law enforcement.

UN Guidelines on Crime Prevention
- Advocating for crime prevention methods that focus on social development, addressing the root causes of crime rather than punitive measures.
Examples of Effective Strategies
- Enhanced access to education, jobs, housing, and healthcare as preventative measures against crime.

Policing as a Coercive Force
- Resisting societal and community cooperation based on fear leads to abuses of power.
Call for Reforms
- Campaign Zero's recommendations for reforming police practices include limiting police interventions and improving accountability.

Police Violence and Rights Violations
- Events at the 2010 G20 Summit in Toronto illustrate the criminalization of dissent, with mass arrests and suppression of free speech.
Kettling Tactics Used
- Kettling involved surrounding and detaining protesters unlawfully, often without just cause, violating their rights to free expression and association.

Alternative Approaches Advocated
- Emphasis on reducing police budgets and reallocating funds to community services for long-term crime prevention.

Towards a More Just Society
- Highlighting the necessity of viewing police reform through a human rights lens, addressing both the systemic issues of policing and societal inequalities.