Body cams, smart guns and tracking darts: policing and the internet of things

Advances in technology underscore a profound shift in law enforcement, one with far-reaching implications for the public and privacy

Rather than always sending its squad cars in pursuit of suspects who might lead them on a chase through the city at dangerous speeds, the Austin, Texas, police department has instead been trying a novel, less risky alternative.

On almost 40 occasions over the past two years, officers have used a system attached to the front grill of some squad cars to launch a small projectile at a suspect's vehicle. Tantamount to a lojack spitball, the small module attaches itself to the car in question and, voila, officers have a GPS signal they can use to track their suspect without needing to resort to a hazardous chase.