Drones, Plate Readers, and AI Facial Recognition: The Surveillance Technology Watching the Bay Area
Airdate: Monday, July 20, 2026 at 9 AM
When San Francisco police drone video surveillance was accidentally livestreamed on the internet last month, it revealed how extensively, and at what great detail, the city is watched from above. The use of surveillance technology is rapidly growing in the Bay Area, with increasing drone and AI-powered surveillance networks partnering with local law enforcement and government agencies. In 2024, the SFPD launched the Real Time Investigation Center, which included major investments in license plate readers, safety cameras and a drone program and Alameda County just approved the renewal of a $2.25 million contract with Flock Safety. It’s all raising concerns about privacy, data leaks, civil liberty infringements and the use of the technology to aid immigration deportations. We’ll discuss the state of surveillance tech in the Bay Area, and what it means for public safety and privacy.
Guests:
- Sheera Frenkel, technology reporter, The New York Times
- Andy Greenberg, senior writer covering security, privacy and hacker culture for WIRED
- Dhruv Mehrotra, investigative data reporter, WIRED