We need Experienced Mobile Developers, specialists in Law, Psychology and on-street Policework. Please join the team to contribute!
Inspiration
Especially in time of crisis, the police cannot be everywhere. It often is not there for people who need protection most, at times they need it most. And even if they can be contacted, their arriving takes time and the perpetrator can meanwhile threaten victim to dismiss them.
Anyhow, there is no proof anything happened, right?
This has to change.
What it does
When a person is harassed or feels threatened by possible violence, they can run the app to start recording audio and video and streaming it to online server. At the same time the app will play loud warning, stating that:
- The actions of perpetrator are being recorded ant uploaded to server for possible use as evidence against him.
- The owner of the phone cannot be threatened to stop recording or delete the recording. It is not possible for their protection.
- If the phone is moved violently or damaged/destroyed, the recording will be sent to police automatically.
- If the owner is injured or reported missing, the recording will be sent to police automatically.
- Their only option to avoid police involvement and making things worse for them is to back off and leave.
How we are going to build it
The heart of the app is fairly straightforward video recorder and streamer, with some extra functionality for location detection, violent movement detection etc. Anything the sensors of the device can record. A witness function.
The really important functions of the app are in the backend. They include:
Encryption and key escrow of recordings for user privacy. There has to be very clearly defined rules and contract between the user, backend operator and the law enforcement, making sure that any recorded material can be viewed by anyone in very clearly defined conditions. The very success of this tool depends on the user feeling safe to start a recording in any possibly dangerous situation, just in case. They have to be certain, that should the situation not escalate to something dangerous, the recording wil remain to be private, seen by noone.
The connections to all local institutions that may be able to help - the police, rescue service, neighborhood watch. These options will differ by location and juristiction.
There is many additional features that could be implemented, for example a "call for help" to other owners of the app who might be nearby. This would be good in areas where police response is unreliable or impossible for other reasons. Specific case of domestic violence could also be considered.
Challenges we will run into
Technical challenges will be mostly related to ensuring reliability and user privacy. But they are not the biggest ones.
The biggest challenges are just two:
- To achieve trust of the users.
- To achieve the cooperation and full support of law enforcement organizations.
For the above we, the technical team, need the help from specialists in psychology, privacy law, criminal law, law enforcement etc. We need it from day one. If you have experience in dealing with attacker/victim psychology, victim support, on-the-street policework etc - please come and join to support our team with your experience.
Together we can build something that makes the world safer place to live in - in those difficult times.
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