USA: Police using AI to analyse driving patterns & catch criminals

Companies like McDonald's & White Castle are using the data gathered by the automatic licence plate recognition to tailor drive-thru orders for its incoming customers

A recent incident in New York is showing how AI technology can be used to help the police department catch fugitives. According to reports, the AI tech provides information that not only helps catch fugitives but also analyses who is driving like they might be a criminal.

As per reports, the police department pulled over a fugitive, despite him not speeding or breaking any traffic laws. However, upon searching his car found illegal substances, along with cash and a gun. The police department later revealed that based on surveillance from dozens of states, they were able to examine his driving patterns and use AI to analyse & determine that the fugitive made several trips along routes typically used by drug traffickers, before turning around and heading home quickly.

Rekor is the company which provides AI tech to the police department and is said to be just one of many working with police across the country. The company states that its tech can be used with any existing cameras and can gather information like licence plates and the make & model of the vehicle used.

The company's "Rekor Public Safety Network" is said to be collecting vehicle location data from its customers for the last three years and has information from at least 30 states. The tech is capable of reading more than 150 million plates per month, which has alarmed civil rights advocates.

Ben Gold, the lawyer of the fugitive caught, commented, “With no judicial oversight this type of system operates at the caprice of every officer with access to it." He further added, “This is the systematic development and deployment of a vast surveillance network that invades society’s reasonable expectation of privacy.”

Having said that Rekor, apart from the police department is also partnering with other corporations like fast food restaurants. Companies like McDonald's & White Castle are using the data gathered by the automatic licence plate recognition to tailor drive-thru orders for its incoming customers, while also personalising promotional offers.

Source: CarScoops