Flock's AI Tool for Police Surveillance
Flock has developed an AI tool, OS Investigate, capable of aiding police in searching for individuals and vehicles by their movement patterns alone, according to a WIRED investigation. This raises concerns among critics who argue it could lead to unwarranted fishing for suspects.
Key Takeaways:
- No License Plates, Names, or Crimes Required: OS Investigate allows police to search based on movement data without the need for license plates, names, or a specific crime.
- Behavioral Searches: The tool enables searches initiated by ordinary police work or reverse logic, focusing on patterns like vehicle locations and behaviors.
- Prompt Customization: With 19 prompts targeting various behaviors, officers can input specific criteria to generate leads, although these outputs require further verification.
- Privacy Concerns: Experts like Chad Marlow from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) warn that such tools could enable officers to engage in fishing expeditions for crimes, influenced by prompt wording.
- Flock's Response: Flock acknowledges the tool is still under development and in testing with a small group of law enforcement partners. They emphasize it is separate from their license plate product and capabilities may change before wider release.
This revelation adds to a pattern of scrutiny surrounding surveillance technology and its potential impact on privacy.