Source of this article and featured image is Wired Security. Description and key fact are generated by Codevision AI system.

Flock employs remote workers from Upwork in the Philippines to annotate surveillance footage. An accidental data leak revealed these workers review and categorize footage of US vehicles and people. The practice raises concerns about data privacy and who accesses sensitive surveillance material. Law enforcement agencies use Flock’s technology to track vehicles without warrants, prompting legal challenges from civil rights groups. Joseph Cox’s investigation highlights the ethical dilemmas of outsourcing AI training to overseas labor.

Key facts

  • Flock uses gig workers from Upwork in the Philippines to annotate surveillance footage.
  • AI training involves categorizing license plates, vehicle types, and audio events like gunshots.
  • A patent details Flock’s AI capabilities to detect racial and clothing data from camera feeds.
  • Exposed documents show workers label audio incidents such as ‘reckless driving’ or ‘car wrecks’.
  • The ACLU and EFF have sued a city over Flock’s widespread surveillance deployment.
See article on Wired Security
TAGS: #AI ethics  #Data Privacy  #data security  #Flock  #gig workers  #law enforcement surveillance  #license plate readers  #machine learning training  #surveillance AI  #Upwork