The Plan to Use Fitbit Data to Stop Mass Shootings Is One of the Scariest Proposals Yet

[mala]

https://gizmodo.com/the-plan-to-use-fitbit-data-to-stop-mass-shootings-is-o-1837710691

Last week, the Washington Post reported that the White House had been briefed on a plan to create an agency called HARPA, a healthcare counterpart to the Pentagon’s research and development arm DARPA. Among other initiatives, this new agency would reportedly collect volunteer data from a suite of smart devices, including Apple Watches, Fitbits, Amazon Echos, and Google Homes in order to identify “neurobehavioral signs” of “someone headed toward a violent explosive act.” The project would then use artificial intelligence to create a “sensor suite” to flag mental changes that make violence more likely.

sure why not ^__^ i guess this is "fine" these days

 

[Nithavela]

I still think that my suggestion of implanting bombs in everyones brains and making them go off if they're about to commit a crime is superior.

If the bombs also operate as smartphones, people would even pay for them.

 

[bèlla]

Too much spying.

 

[Tom 1]

https://gizmodo.com/the-plan-to-use-fitbit-data-to-stop-mass-shootings-is-o-1837710691



sure why not ^__^ i guess this is "fine" these days

Ok, so the next time I stub my toe or break a nail I can expect a visit from the cops? Do they bring pizza if you ask nicely?

 

[DamianWarS]

https://gizmodo.com/the-plan-to-use-fitbit-data-to-stop-mass-shootings-is-o-1837710691



sure why not ^__^ i guess this is "fine" these days

Volunteer? Obviously less of a violation but I can't see many criminals lining up to share their wearable data for something like this.

 

[Christ is Lord]

Smh. What happens when there are false positives?

 

[Nithavela]

Smh. What happens when there are false positives?

 

[comana]

What data could a Fitbit provide regarding mental health? Strange idea.

 

[Nithavela]

What data could a Fitbit provide regarding mental health? Strange idea.

If someone neglects his exercise routine, that could mean that he has fallen into a bout of depression.

Or he could have discovered world of warcraft.

Either way, better send a SWAT team over there.

 

[Tom 1]

What data could a Fitbit provide regarding mental health? Strange idea.

The idea is to link physiological changes, speech & activity patterns etc to any violent behavior, by aggregating loads of data to analyse for trigger signs or suggestive changes in any of the linked factors. Given some of the dodgy research behind behaviour and emotion recognition it sounds like a scary precedent.

 

[Christ is Lord]

What about if the future shooter doesn’t wear any of these fitness trackers...?

 

[Tom 1]

What about if the future shooter doesn’t wear any of these fitness trackers...?

The worrying answer would be is that it is intended as a kind of a pilot for a larger plan to eventually make something like this mandatory, or to introduce some other method of stealth monitoring through existing hardwear.

 

[comana]

The idea is to link physiological changes, speech & activity patterns etc to any violent behavior, by aggregating loads of data to analyse for trigger signs or suggestive changes in any of the linked factors. Given some of the dodgy research behind behaviour and emotion recogniton it sounds like a scary precedent.

Sounds like a load of junk science.

Anyway, my Fitbit (when I feel motivated to take it off the charger) would give little useful info towards my mental state. I also don't use those silly Google or Amazon pods that you talk to. It's creepy that they are always listening.

 

[Nithavela]

The worrying answer would be is that it is intended as a kind of a pilot for a larger plan to eventually make something like this mandatory, or to introduce some other method of stealth monitoring through existing hardwear.

If only people were carrying around a minicomputer with loads of sensors like microphones and cameras that can wirelessly connect to the internet.

 

[comana]

If only people were carrying around a minicomputer with loads of sensors like microphones and cameras that can wirelessly connect to the internet.

Maybe we all just need to get on board with a mandatory brain implant to monitor our thoughts and intentions.

 

[Tom 1]

Sounds like a load of junk science.

Anyway, my Fitbit (when I feel motivated to take it off the charger) would give little useful info towards my mental state. I also don't use those silly Google or Amazon pods that you talk to. It's creepy that they are always listening.

It's the underlying premises that are a bit dodgy I think. Yeah I've never found much use for gadgets you can talk to, they might be useful in certain situations but the intrusion of privacy is a real thing, as has been seen. Probably future generations will have different notions about what privacy is.

 

[Messerve]

If only people were carrying around a minicomputer with loads of sensors like microphones and cameras that can wirelessly connect to the internet.

I always go through my settings and turn off as many of the tracking and voice recognition things there are. No Siri or Cortana or Alexa or anything for me.

 

[Nithavela]

Maybe we all just need to get on board with a mandatory brain implant to monitor our thoughts and intentions.

Don't forget the bomb. It's pointless without the bomb.

 

[Tom 1]

If only people were carrying around a minicomputer with loads of sensors like microphones and cameras that can wirelessly connect to the internet.

Yes. If only. Make mine a convenience compromise, to go please.

 

[variant]

What about if the future shooter doesn’t wear any of these fitness trackers...?

You could probably adapt smartphone tech then.