Bay Area Ars readers: Join us TONIGHT 5/18 to talk about high-tech surveillance and cops

If you're in the Bay Area this fine evening, we'd love for you to join us for the filming of our second episode of Ars Technica Live, a monthly interview series with fascinating people who work at the intersection of tech, science, and culture. We're meeting tonight, May 18, in Oakland, California, from 7 to 9pm for a discussion with law professor Elizabeth Joh about technology, surveillance, and law enforcement.

Filmed before a live audience in Oakland tiki bar Longitude (347 14th St., Oakland, California), each episode of Ars Technica Live is a speculative, informal conversation between your fine hosts Annalee Newitz and Cyrus Farivar and an invited guest. The audience—that would be you—is also invited to join the conversation and ask questions. These aren’t soundbyte setups; they are deep cuts from the frontiers of research and creativity.

This month's event is about the legal and ethical implications of how police use surveillance technology. Guest Elizabeth Joh is a UC Davis law professor who has done extensive research on how police use surveillance technology, including body cams. She's also interested in DNA databases.

Come to Longitude at 7pm to say hi, join us for the live taping from 7:30 to 8:00, and then hang out at the bar for drinking, snacks, and informal chat. Can't make it out to Oakland tonight? Never fear! Episodes will be posted to Ars Technica the week after the live events. We also have an event page on Facebook.

For those who attended last month, you'll be excited to hear that we will be downstairs at the bar, which means more room (and more air)! Plus we will have a PA system so it will be easier to hear. Voice amplification technology! It's the best. See you tomorrow night!

And if you're planning ahead, Ars Technica Live #3 will be on June 15, with guest Sarah Jeong, author of The Internet of Garbage.