Flock Uses Overseas Gig Workers to Build Its Surveillance AI
10 days ago
- #AI-training
- #privacy
- #surveillance
- Flock uses overseas workers from Upwork to train its AI algorithms with US footage.
- Flock's surveillance cameras scan license plates and vehicle details nationwide.
- Law enforcement uses Flock's data without warrants, prompting lawsuits from ACLU and EFF.
- Flock's AI detects license plates, vehicles, people, clothing, and even race.
- Exposed online panel revealed metrics on AI training tasks and annotators' locations.
- Workers categorize footage, including vehicle details, license plates, and audio like screams.
- Some annotators are based in the Philippines and hired via Upwork.
- Training guides show US-based footage from states like NY, FL, and CA.
- Audio categorization includes options like 'gunshot' and 'car wreck'.
- Flock declined to comment after the exposed panel was taken down.