Sonia M. Gipson Rankin, Melanie Moses & Kathy L. Powers, Automated Stategraft: Electronic Enforcement Technology and the Economic Predation of Black Communities, 2024 Wis. L. Rev. 665 (2024).
Automated traffic enforcement systems disproportionately impact Black
communities in the United States. This Essay uncovers a troubling reality:
while technologies such as speed cameras and red light cameras are often
touted as tools for public safety by the National Highway Safety
Transportation Administration, they disproportionately burden Black and
Hispanic neighborhoods. The authors coin the term “automated stategraft” to
describe this phenomenon—an insidious process that siphons financial
resources from already vulnerable groups under the guise of law
enforcement. In doing so, it exacerbates economic disparities and erodes trust
in legal and governmental institutions.
This Essay delves into the biases inherent in these technologies,
particularly in the future of automated traffic enforcement: facial recognition
systems. These biases amplify racial and economic injustices, perpetuating
inequities. To address this pressing issue, this Essay proposes more just
traffic enforcement practices that prioritize community trust and avoid
exacerbating racial disparities. It advocates for a critical reevaluation of
existing practices, emphasizing equity, justice, and community well-being
over financial gain or excessive surveillance. This call to action underscores
the urgent need to safeguard public interests in an era marked by increasing surveillance, ensuring that technological advancements in law enforcement
serve to protect—rather than oppress—marginalized communities.
