Surveillance network: FedEx, retailers said to be sharing AI camera feeds with cops
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/surveillance-network-fedex-retailers-said-to-be-sharing-ai-camera-feeds-with-cops/ar-BB1pbUWA
Archive copy: https://archive.ph/5zOc3
"FedEx (NYSE:FDX) is sharing its surveillance feeds with local law enforcement as part of an AI car surveillance network, Forbes has reported, with two police departments sharing their camera feeds to the shipping giant's own police force.
The company has reportedly installed AI-powered cameras on its trucks made by Flock Safety to monitor its facilities. Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee and Pittsboro Police Department in Indiana have also granted the FedEx Air Carrier Police Department access to their Flock license plate readers.
The report has sparked concerns over the mass surveillance network. "It raises questions about why a private company... would have privileged access to data that normally is only available to law enforcement,"said Jay Stanley, senior policy analyst, American Civil Liberties Union.
While FedEx spokesperson Phalisha Jackson said the company does not discuss its security procedures publicly, it takes its staff's safety "very seriously."
Flock has similar arrangements with other multi-billion dollar companies, including Simon Property Group (SPG) and Lowe's (LOW), which share mall feeds with local cops to combat shoplifting.
Another major Flock customer is Ulta Beauty (ULTA), which shares images of vehicles and gunshot detection alerts with police to prevent crimes against its staff.
Kaiser Permanente, the largest health insurer in the U.S., has also shared data from Flock's license plate readers with the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center, , according to the report.
Flock, valued at over $4B in an Andreessen Horowitz-led fundraising round in 2023, previously ran into issues with law enforcement over installing AI-powered license plate readers without approval."
Flock Safety, who makes the tag readers and shot sensors, is based in Atlanta, GA.
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