New Books in Sociology Ben Snyder on Spy Plane: Inside Baltimore’s Surveillance Experiment
Jun 16, 2025
In this discussion, Ben Snyder, an Associate Professor of Sociology at Williams College and author of *Spy Plane*, reveals the intricate dynamics of Baltimore's controversial aerial surveillance program. He shares insights from his direct observations within the tech startup running the initiative, illustrating the challenges of balancing public safety with privacy rights. Snyder explores community reactions, the dual nature of surveillance success and failure, and the constitutional implications surrounding the program, shedding light on the broader impacts of surveillance on society.
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Spy Plane Technology Overview
- The 'spy plane' is a military-grade aerial surveillance tech used in Baltimore for extensive public tracking.
- It claims to help the police solve violent crimes by tracking every citizen in view for hours at a time.
Successful Tracking Case
- In the Carroll Avenue case, the spy plane successfully tracked a homicide suspect from the crime scene to arrest.
- Integration with CCTV and facial recognition led to suspect identification and capture, showing technology's potential.
False Positive Police Mistake
- The McKendry Street case exposed a false positive where analysts mistakenly tracked the wrong car.
- Police mistakenly harassed innocent residents before the error was caught, highlighting serious risks.
