Articles Tagged: surveillance state

Showing 2 of 2 articles tagged with "surveillance state"

Advertisement

Deeplinks on in internet

Discussion Points

  1. Balancing Public Safety with Individual Privacy: How do you think Flock Safety's automated license plate readers (ALPRs) balance the need for law enforcement agencies to track and prevent crimes with the concern over individual privacy and the potential for mass surveillance?r
  2. The Role of Grassroots Activism in Holding Corporations Accountable: What role do grassroots initiatives like DeFlock.me play in holding companies like Flock Safety accountable for their actions, particularly when it comes to issues of privacy and intellectual property?r
  3. The Intersection of Technology and Civil Liberties: How do emerging technologies like ALPRs impact our civil liberties, and what steps can be taken to ensure that these technologies are developed and used in ways that respect individual rights and freedoms?

Summary

Flock Safety, a company providing automated license plate readers (ALPRs) to law enforcement agencies, is clashing with a privacy activist over the mapping of its camera locations. The company sent a cease-and-desist letter, claiming trademark dilution, but EFF rejected the demand, citing First Amendment rights.

DeFlock.me, a crowdsourced project, has mapped over 16,000 ALPR locations, including Flock Safety devices, raising concerns about mass surveillance and potential misuse by law enforcement. The case highlights the tension between public safety and individual privacy, as well as the importance of grassroots activism in holding corporations accountable for their actions.

Flock Safety loves to crow about the thousands of local law enforcement agencies around the United States that have adopted its avian-themed automated license plate readers (ALPRs). But when a privacy...

Read Full Article »

Deeplinks on in internet

Discussion Points

  1. The Ethics of AI Development: Is it morally justifiable for companies like Google to prioritize profit over human rights and humanitarian concerns in their AI development?
  2. The Military-Industrial Complex and Tech Giants: How do the actions of tech giants like Google reflect the broader influence of the military-industrial complex on society, and what are the implications for democratic values?
  3. Regulation and Accountability: What measures can be taken to ensure that companies like Google are held accountable for their actions, particularly when it comes to AI development and its potential applications?

Summary

Google's recent decision to remove four key points from its AI principles has sparked widespread concern. The company's shift towards prioritizing profit over human rights and humanitarian concerns has raised questions about the ethics of AI development.

With the removal of principles on weapons, surveillance, and technologies that contravenge international law, Google appears to be legitimizing the use of AI for mass surveillance and high-tech warfare. As a global leader in tech, Google's actions have significant implications for democratic values and the broader influence of the military-industrial complex.

Regulatory bodies must take action to hold companies accountable.

Google continues to show us why it chose to abandon its old motto of “Don’t Be Evil,” as it becomes more and more enmeshed with the military-industrial complex. Most recently, Google has removed...

Read Full Article »