Axon contract (F.4)

Said Axon profits from surveillance used against Palestinians, immigrants, and dissenters, and urged the commission to reject the $2.4 million contract.

Predicted the commission would approve the contract anyway and accused members of siding with corporations over working people.

Argued the cameras constantly collect location data through AI and asked the city to pick a vendor without AI tools or secure city ownership of the data.

A lifelong resident who said data flowing to the vendor cannot be controlled and the purchase doesn't reflect community will.

A candidate for Gallatin County sheriff who warned cloud data shared with FBI/DHS undermines Montana privacy law and audits.

An amateur runner who said ubiquitous cameras create a chilling, obnoxious surveillance presence.

MSU student who said the $2.4 million price is inflated for AI features the city won't use, that the item lacks product detail, and shouldn't be on consent.

An AI-focused computer science student who flagged auto-renewals, liability caps, and termination costs in the contract and asked where the competing bids were.

Argued license-plate surveillance creates tracking networks and high error rates, treating every driver as a suspect.

Cited Axon's $220 million taser sale to ICE and urged a boycott of Axon and Flock.

An Economic Vitality Board member speaking as an individual who asked for written guarantees against future facial recognition use and questioned how the tech addresses police accountability concerns.

Objected to keeping F.4 on consent rather than the action agenda, saying individual commissioner positions would be more transparent and ethical.

MSU physics student who said the tech feeds federal databases including immigration violations, turning the city into an 'ICE informant.'

Presented research on Axis Communications as an alternative, cited Montana's ALPR law exceptions, and urged tabling until a city surveillance policy is passed.

Cited wrongful arrests from Flock camera data leading to lawsuits and urged the commission not to expose the city to liability.

Pointed to Axon's history of downplaying taser deaths and argued cloud-stored footage could later be scanned by ALPR software.

Said the city faces federal civil rights lawsuits over police violence and that $2 million in gear won't fix a de-escalation crisis.

Invoked Montana's constitutional right to privacy and warned the city would be buying into Axon's vendor ecosystem.

Warned that Axon, like Flock, contracts with DHS and that terminating the contract later would be difficult.

Questioned the justification for a $2.4 million expense when mental health services go underfunded, and objected to new taser-style devices.

A first-time attendee who said the sheer number of speakers in opposition should signal the commission to reject the item.

Criticized putting the item on consent, cited AI's environmental costs, and asked the commission to vote no and discuss alternatives.

A Bozeman native who cited Axon's $2.47 million lobbying spend and ICE contract and asked for deeper community involvement and stronger policies.

Speaking for the ACLU of Montana, cited the 2022 mass resignation of Axon's ethics board and Montana's 90-day data retention allowance.

Recovering from an illness contracted while working in the West Bank; urged delaying the vote and finding vendors not tied to genocide and mass surveillance.

Said contracting with Axon violates Montana's privacy rights and questioned why the city is buying cameras whose AI features it won't use.