LFI Course Materials 2020/Week ten

Week 9: Surveillance and the carceral state

• Real time lecture May 11th 11 Pacific/2 Eastern on Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/9129428892

Overview

It's no coincidence that the rise in surveillance technologies over the past 30 years has coincided with the increase in mass incarceration and violent policing, especially in Black, poor, and immigrant communities. Thanks to the work of accountability movements, we've learned that police now have access to an unprecedented amount of new surveillance equipment that is often acquired and used without democratic oversight. Police also have new relationships with corporate entities, including Amazon, in a mutually beneficial relationship to acquire and deploy more of these surveillance technologies. Now that we're seeing new surveillance infrastructures being discussed to address COVID-19, we'll likely see an increase in the use of carceral technologies used in the name of public health. Myaisha Hayes of Media Justice joins us this week to discuss these new surveillance infrastructures and the effect it will have on policing and incarceration.

Readings

• Defend Our Movements digital self-defense knowledge base
• #ProtectBlackDissent campaign
• Racial-Justice, Digital-Rights and Worker Advocates Release Statement in Solidarity with Protesting Amazon Workers and Whistleblowers

Guest lecturer

Myaisha Hayes, campaign strategies director at Media Justice

Discussion

TBD

Tasks

• Lecture, readings, discussion forum, and final project work