Cambridge City Council votes to end use of ShotSpotter technology

May 20, 2026 - 21:00

The Cambridge City Council has voted to discontinue the use of ShotSpotter technology, a gunshot detection system that uses acoustic sensors to identify the sound of gunfire in real time. The decision follows years of debate over the system's accuracy and its impact on local communities.

ShotSpotter relies on a network of microphones placed across designated areas to triangulate the location of gunshots and alert police within seconds. Supporters argue the technology helps law enforcement respond faster to shootings, potentially saving lives. However, critics have long raised concerns that the system is unreliable, often mistaking fireworks or car backfires for gunfire. More importantly, opponents say the technology disproportionately targets neighborhoods with high populations of people of color, leading to increased police presence and over-policing in those communities.

Council members who voted to end the contract cited these civil rights concerns, along with the high cost of the program. The vote makes Cambridge one of a growing number of cities to move away from ShotSpotter, following similar decisions in places like Chicago and San Antonio. City officials will now work on winding down the contract and exploring alternative approaches to public safety that rely less on surveillance technology.