Public Safety
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As every sector of the global economy and nearly every facet of modern society undergo digital transformation, ITIF advocates for policies that spur not just the development of IT innovations, but more importantly their adoption and use throughout the economy. In the area of public safety, ITIF studies how technological advances in areas such as data analytics and high-quality video can enhance national security and emergency response to promote public safety.

Publications and Events
April 18, 2023|Events
Fostering User Safety in AR/VR Technology
Join ITIF for a panel discussion with policymakers and thought leaders about how to ensure that users can enjoy the benefits of AR/VR technology safely.
January 17, 2023|Blogs
Facial Recognition Could Increase Safety and Decrease Wait Times When Flying
The TSA has begun testing facial recognition technology to verify passengers’ identities at 16 major airports. But opposition, including from cities with facial recognition bans, would force the TSA to continue to rely on outdated technology and place restrictions on innovation that would benefit passengers most of all.
January 11, 2023|Events
Police Tech: Maximizing Benefits and Reducing Risks
Join ITIF in-person for a discussion about what emerging technologies are on the horizon for law enforcement and how police departments can get the most out of these technologies while addressing some of the legitimate concerns.
January 9, 2023|Reports & Briefings
Police Tech: Exploring the Opportunities and Fact-Checking the Criticisms
Police tech could transform the way law enforcement operates, reducing crime and saving lives. Policymakers should focus on advancing adoption while enacting regulations to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of police tech.
November 16, 2021|Op-Eds & Commentary, Blogs
Should Law Enforcement Use Facial Recognition to Identify Capitol Insurrectionists? Not According to EFF
EFF tries to deflect criticism of its position by arguing law enforcement has many other tools at its disposal—but that claim is a crafty bit of misdirection because EFF has opposed those tools too.
September 18, 2021|Op-Eds & Commentary, Blogs
Virtue-Signaling Connecticut Town Might Accidentally Ban Its Local Officials From Using iPhones
Activists continue to lobby local governments for facial recognition technology bans, falsely arguing it is racist, sexist, and a threat to free speech. They dismiss or ignore all evidence showing how it keeps people safe, and some local officials have fallen for their arguments hook, line, and sinker.
October 2, 2020|Op-Eds & Commentary
No-Contact Government Means More Than Just Online Services
July 13, 2020|Reports & Briefings
Why New Calls to Subvert Commercial Encryption Are Unjustified
Law enforcement argues that “warrant-proof” encryption presents a unique and urgent threat by preventing them from accessing user data. But history shows that government efforts to subvert encryption would negatively impact individuals and businesses. As such, banning the technology is not the answer.
June 16, 2020|Op-Eds & Commentary, Blogs
Banning Facial Recognition Will Not Advance Efforts at Police Reform
Regardless of where one stands on police reform, banning facial recognition for law enforcement makes little sense. To understand the reasons, consider some of the most popular ideas for responding to police violence.
May 18, 2020|Op-Eds & Commentary, Podcasts
Podcast: The COVID Privacy Challenge, With Amitai Etzioni
The COVID crisis has shifted the data privacy debate away from its prior focus on individual rights to one more focused on collective needs and responsibilities—for example, when it comes to sharing and analyzing medial data related to the pandemic, or tracking individuals’ contacts. Rob and Jackie discuss these issues with noted scholar and public intellectual Amitai Etzioni.