Flock Safety's New 'Raven' Device Raises Privacy Concerns as It Expands Surveillance
Flock Safety, a controversial company specialising in mass surveillance, is expanding its services. The Virginia-based firm is launching 'Raven', a device that detects gunshots and human distress sounds. This comes amidst an ongoing lawsuit alleging Fourth Amendment violations due to excessive surveillance. Meanwhile, cities like Austin, Texas and Oak Park have terminated contracts with Flock over privacy concerns.
Flock Safety operates a vast network of automated license plate reader cameras across over 6,000 communities nationwide. These cameras have been used to track abortion patients and undocumented immigrants across state lines, raising serious privacy concerns. The new Raven product aims to 'cover the blind spots that cameras miss', detecting sounds of human distress. However, civil liberties groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation have expressed worries about its potential impacts on privacy.
The lawsuit against Flock in Norfolk, Virginia, alleges that the company's surveillance practices violate the Fourth Amendment. Critics argue that Flock's technology, including Raven, could lead to false positives and disproportionately target minority neighbourhoods, echoing criticisms faced by similar gunshot detection systems. Some cities have already taken action, with Austin, Texas and Oak Park cancelling their contracts with Flock due to low alert effectiveness and privacy concerns.
Flock Safety's expansion into gunshot and human distress detection raises significant questions about privacy and civil liberties. As the company's surveillance network grows, so do the concerns about its impact on communities. The ongoing lawsuit in Virginia and the actions taken by cities like Austin, Texas and Oak Park highlight the need for careful consideration and regulation of such technologies.
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