This request seeks documents related to the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI), a program of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which gives funding to the city of Boston under the umbrella of FEMA’s Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP). According to the City, the program “is intended to enhance regional preparedness in major metropolitan areas by developing integrated regional systems, prevention, protection, response and recovery.” UASI combines two areas that are of great interest to the public: the increased sharing of information among local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, and the increased video surveillance of public areas. Despite the substantial amount of funding that has gone into this program, little information is publicly available and there are concerns about how new technologies and systems may affect privacy and civil rights.