This talk will cover the reign of surveillance that has secretly taken over the United States at the local level through use of federal grant money, and offer suggestions on how we can fight back. It's the story of how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) tried to create a fusion center in Oakland, California. In particular, the presentation will share details of the Oakland privacy policy the speakers helped create in response to this intrusive spy system, and the advocacy that led to its creation. The hope is to teach the framework that was created, shed light on how these issues affect both Americans and Europeans, and show how businesses and governments can find a balance between security and privacy.