Is FedEx Corp (NYSE:FDX) helping law enforcement spy on private citizens? A new report presents compelling evidence in the latest controversy over privacy.
What Happened: Forbes reported that the Memphis, Tennessee-based shipping giant has partnered with local law enforcement agencies by distributing surveillance footage from cameras on FedEx vehicles.
There are instances of local police departments reciprocating by sharing data with FedEx, which has a secretive, private police force. These include the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee and Pittsboro Police Department in Indiana.
Jay Stanley, senior policy analyst at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), called the program “profoundly disconcerting.”
“It raises questions about why a private company…would have privileged access to data that normally is only available to law enforcement,” Stanley told Forbes.
The company utilizes surveillance cameras from the start-up Flock Safety.
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What is Flock?: Flock, a multi-billion dollar startup founded in 2017, leases surveillance equipment to the private and public sectors.
Flock uses artificial intelligence technology to track vehicles by license plate, make, model, color and other identifying qualities.
Why it Matters: FedEx operates in all 50 states, with over 200,000 vehicles and hundreds of operational centers. FedEx’s partnership expands surveillance efforts to the road.
The extent of data sharing between law enforcement and FedEx remains unclear. The arrangement underscores broader issues surrounding privacy, transparency, and the increasing use of private surveillance technologies in law enforcement efforts.
While the program may help police departments reduce crime, it also opens the door for questions about curtailing personal liberties.
Simon Property Group Inc (NYSE:SPG), Lowe’s Companies Inc (NYSE:LOW) and Kaiser Permanente similarly share data with law enforcement, per Forbes.
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