DeKalb County has committed nearly $19 million over the next decade to expand its “Digital Shield” program — adding a vast new network of cameras and drones to monitor neighborhoods, schools, and public spaces. Leaders say it’s about public safety. But without strict limits, this is really about turning our communities into zones of constant surveillance.

Cameras and drones do not address the root causes of crime. At best, they create the illusion of safety while diverting millions away from solutions that actually prevent violence, like affordable housing, youth programs, crisis responders, and mental health care. At worst, they become tools for over-policing and profiling, disproportionately targeting communities of color.

Right now, DeKalb County has not told residents key details: Where will these cameras and drones be placed? Who will monitor them? How long will footage be stored, and who can access it? Will drones be used to watch protests, track young people, or scan license plates across entire neighborhoods? Without transparency, this massive expansion puts our privacy, our freedoms, and our trust at risk.

Technology should never replace justice. $19 million could transform services that keep families safe, but instead it’s being poured into systems that watch us rather than protect us. Once surveillance networks are built, they rarely shrink — and the damage to civil liberties can last for generations.

We demand that DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond and the Board of Commissioners halt the “Digital Shield” expansion until the community has answers. At minimum, residents must have public hearings, enforceable rules for how drones and cameras are used, and independent civilian oversight of all data collection.

Safety in DeKalb should mean walking home without fear, knowing your kids are safe in school, and trusting that your rights are protected — not worrying about whether every move you make is being recorded.

Add your name to tell DeKalb County leaders: Stop this $19 million surveillance plan and invest in real solutions that make our communities safer.