• Kay Ohtie@pawb.social
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    2 hours ago

    When I worked for a healthcare software company one of my roles was technical support on a controlled substance monitoring program on a state-by-state basis.

    Cops had a separate login portal, and had to go through quite a process to get their account. Once they did, they could submit a search, but had to justify it with a reason that included the warrant number. And even then, it required secondary approval of the search request by a state-level employee.

    Why the fuck is that not the minimum for searching someone’s whereabouts?

    (To add, I think such programs are unethical when available to cops. For doctors, it was used to make sure a patient wasn’t doc-shopping for opiates, and even then I’m hesitant. It has a potential to save lives via intervention upon finding someone’s 'shopping, but I don’t think it’s usually used as a safe intervention.)

    • MangoCats
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      3 hours ago

      It’s just demonstrating that the “reason for search” field for accountability actually has zero accountability. This should be tied to the identity of the person filling the field and mockery of procedure should be grounds for demotion and/or loss of access, but we know that neither is the actual way things run.

      • theneverfox@pawb.social
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        2 hours ago

        It’s because of dilution of responsibility.

        Private companies aren’t restricted by the Constitution, so they’re not on the hook. Police are just using a private service, so the department isn’t on the hook either

        So really, it’s no one’s responsibility to make sure this isn’t abused. That’s what we have to fix

  • Brem@lemmy.world
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    9 hours ago

    Cops are usually one of two things.

    1. bullied future stalker

    2. (rarely) defending us from bullied future stalker