The surveillance state strikes another blow as Delaware lawmakers take further steps implementing artificial intelligence in law enforcement.
Last week, the state House passed legislation, with only two members voting against, allowing speed cameras to be deployed on our streets and highways.
While offenders committing crimes against people and property go unpunished or get off with a slap on the wrist, our state's politicians aim to increase the number of traffic violations issued to everyday Delawareans.
These AI-driven camera systems will automatically issue fines to the owners of vehicles exceeding speed limits.
Additionally, an even more constitutionally oppressive section of this legislation eliminates the right to trial by jury for many people who will receive these new computer-generated citations.
As always, public safety is the rallying cry by which government officials have engineered a new program that will extract money from Delawareans traveling to and from their homes and about their lives and business.
But is this about safety or is this about money?
Revenue from this new program allows politicians to further inflate the state’s ever-growing budget. It’s a hidden tax increase that takes more money out of the shrinking pockets of families and our local economy and deposits it into the black hole of government spending.
The legislation also states that money from the fees collected will be used to pay system vendors. To be perfectly clear, this means that private corporations providing these machines will be receiving a cut of the revenue taken from citizens.
Is this union of private corporations and law enforcement in the best interests of Delawareans?
Does private profit motive belong in our state's system of justice?
Are fines issued by artificial intelligence compatible with a free society?
A resounding "no" is the only answer that honors Delaware's venerable state motto: Liberty and Independence.
It will only be a matter of time before total technological surveillance becomes justified in the name of public safety; with AI replacing the living, breathing members of our communities known as police officers; with corporations happily receiving their piece of the pie to provide the technology used to keep citizens under watch; and with politicians and political organizations receiving donations from those profiting in order to keep the grift – excuse me, “public safety program” – going.
This bill has not yet passed the Senate. Contact your senators and tell them to vote no on House Bill 94.
-
A letter to the editor expresses a reader's opinion and, as such, is not reflective of the editorial opinions of this newspaper.
To submit a letter to the editor for publishing, send an email to viewpoints@capegazette.com. All letters are considered at the discretion of the newsroom and published as space allows. Due to the large volume of submissions, we cannot acknowledge receipt of each submission. Letters must include a phone number and address for verification. Keep letters to 400 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit for content or length. Letters should be responsive to issues addressed in the Cape Gazette rather than content from other publications or media. Letters should focus on local issues, not national topics or personalities. Only one letter per author will be published every 30 days regarding a particular topic. Authors may submit a second letter within that time period if it pertains to a different issue. Letters may not be critical of personalities or specific businesses. Criticism of public figures is permissible. Endorsement letters for political candidates are no longer accepted. Letters must be the author’s original work, and may not be generated by artificial intelligence tools. Templates, form letters and letters containing language similar to other submissions will not be published.
