Sheriffs want popular police-tracking app disabled
Source: AP-Excite
By EILEEN SULLIVAN
WASHINGTON (AP) Sheriffs are campaigning to pressure Google Inc. to turn off a feature on its Waze traffic software that warns drivers when police are nearby. They say one of the technology industry's most popular mobile apps could put officers' lives in danger from would-be police killers who can find where their targets are parked.
Waze, which Google purchased for $966 million in 2013, is a combination of GPS navigation and social networking. Fifty million users in 200 countries turn to the free service for real-time traffic guidance and warnings about nearby congestion, car accidents, speed traps or traffic cameras, construction zones, potholes, stalled vehicles or unsafe weather conditions.
To Sergio Kopelev, a reserve deputy sheriff in Southern California, Waze is also a stalking app for law enforcement.
There are no known connections between any attack on police and Waze, but law enforcers such as Kopelev are concerned it's only a matter of time. They are seeking support among other law enforcement trade groups to pressure Google to disable the police-reporting function. The emerging policy debate places Google again at the center of an ongoing global debate about public safety, consumer rights and privacy.
FULL story at link.
This image taken from the the Waze app on an iPhone, in Washington, shows police at the scene on a map on the app. Sheriffs are campaigning to pressure Google Inc. to turn off a feature on its Waze traffic software that warns drivers when police are nearby. Authorities say one of the technology industry's most popular mobile apps could put officers' lives in danger from would-be cop-killers who can find where their targets are parked. (AP Photo/Ted Bridis)
Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20150126/us--police_tracking_app-c77900cb46.html
notadmblnd
(23,720 posts)so what's the point?
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)as
either works.
Jesus Malverde
(10,274 posts)So true.
uppityperson
(115,677 posts)Seriously? Omg, the public will know where their public servants are? It is also sadly amusing that it is not knowing where to n find a cop of you need one, but being able to avoid them.
Earth_First
(14,910 posts)...anyone with a scanner can do nearly the same tracking of law enforcement officers.
What we do NOT need is further secrecy of our public safety officers.
Deal with it.
Dawson Leery
(19,348 posts)We have a right to know where they are. The upside of this app is people will slow down if they believe the are police around.
Android3.14
(5,402 posts)I guess it depends on whether the goal is to make the roads safer or to catch speeders.
I see/know of/hear a cop, I slow down.
Renew Deal
(81,861 posts)bluestateguy
(44,173 posts)That's what they always say about citizens, btw.
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)candelista
(1,986 posts)Congrats, Sergio! You got your 15 minutes.
LiberalFighter
(50,943 posts)I went online at home to check my area and I find it is barely utilized. So therefore, THAT cop complaining is so full of it.
bpj62
(999 posts)So let me get this straight, the sheriff wants google to disable a system that actually causes motorists to drive the speed limit and thus create safer road conditions. He creates a scenario that has not even occurred as an excuse for requesting this. As someone stated in a prior post the Police are public servants and we have every right to know where they are and how they are using our taxes. Someone is losing revenue because of social media and they don't like it.
truebrit71
(20,805 posts)N/T
dembotoz
(16,808 posts)Sienna86
(2,149 posts)And Waze should win.
Dreamer Tatum
(10,926 posts)Because 100% of the times I've seen cops noted on Waze, it's to show where there's an accident.
And even if it was to note a speed trap, GOOD.
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)Their murder rate is 30% LOWER than the general population's.
These lobbyists should go enjoy their overpriced tax payer funded salaries, and eat shit at the same time.
pennylane100
(3,425 posts)is higher when factoring in all the innocent people they manage to kill when trying to arrest them.