In the lead-up to Thanksgiving, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell introduced a resolution aimed at approving a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that could enable $15 million in state surveillance funding to be allocated to a local nonprofit. This proposal has raised significant concerns regarding accountability surrounding the use of surveillance technology, highlighting a growing trend in U.S. cities where police departments increasingly outsource surveillance capabilities to private, nonprofit organizations that often operate without public oversight.
The trend has been particularly pronounced in cities like Atlanta and New Orleans, where police foundations and nonprofits have taken on substantial roles in funding and implementing surveillance systems. For instance, the Atlanta Police Foundation played a crucial role in funding the controversial Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, while New Orleans’ nonprofit Project NOLA has faced backlash for conducting real-time facial recognition scans that violated city policy. Nashville’s latest move closely mirrors these developments, but with particular local implications.
On November 21, just before the holiday, O’Connell’s resolution proposed that the Nashville Downtown Partnership (NDP) receive the state funds that had been earmarked for public safety enhancements. Critics have focused on NDP’s troubled history, which includes scandals over its management of public funds and controversial relationships with vendors responsible for public safety in the city. The memorandum suggests that Metro Nashville will bypass applying for the funds directly, instead allowing the nonprofit to secure the money and potentially purchase controversial surveillance technologies.
The MOU details equipment that includes various policing tools, from armored vehicles to advanced surveillance software, some of which could allow the nonprofit to operate these systems independently. Notably, it mentions LeoSight, a surveillance integration platform led by a former executive from a company linked to prior surveillance tech proposals that had been stalled due to public opposition.
Local media coverage of the mayor’s proposal brought to light the allocation of the state funds, revealing a lack of clarity on whether certain technologies, particularly AI surveillance tools, are indeed being financed under the current resolution. This vagueness has raised further questions about the oversight of the allocation and the extent of public funds utilized for surveillance in Nashville.
The Nashville Downtown Partnership has encountered significant scrutiny in recent years due to its financial practices and lack of transparency in operations. Since 2019, it has received over $40 million from public funds, despite not providing budgets for council approval as mandated. This has led to calls for greater accountability within the organization as it plans to manage significant resources, including those intended for surveillance.
Mayor O’Connell, who previously garnered attention as a vocal opponent of surveillance tech during his time on the Metro Council, has since adopted a different stance since taking office. This evolution has startled many constituents who view it as a departure from his earlier commitments to privacy and community oversight. As Nashville stands on the brink of implementing significant surveillance measures through a nonprofit, the broader implications for privacy rights and democratic accountability remain unclear.
With a public vote on the proposal set for December 4, Nashville’s decision will be closely watched by other cities grappling with similar issues of surveillance expansion and the erosion of public oversight. The outcome could set a precedent, raising crucial questions about the accountability of surveillance practices implemented through private entities—questions that may resonate throughout the nation.