Public attitudes toward police surveillance technologies for gun violence reduction: evidence from Illinois

This study examines public support for expanding police use of six surveillance technologies to reduce gun violence: ShotSpotter, doorbell cameras, CCTV, ALPRs, drones, and facial recognition. An online survey of 1,028 Illinois residents found moderate but meaningful overall support (M = 2.84 on a 4-point scale) that varied significantly by technology and demographics. ShotSpotter and residential doorbell cameras received the strongest approval, while drones and facial recognition garnered the lowest. Women, adults aged 65+, and Democrats expressed significantly higher support, yet no overall racial or class-based (income/education) differences emerged, challenging activist narratives about disproportionate opposition among marginalized communities. Conducted in a demographically representative state, these findings reveal a potential gap between elite critiques and public preferences, offering important implications for policing strategy and policy amid ongoing national and global surveillance debates.