Privacy

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Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

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‘It scared them off’, Kansas City shoppers report less crime thanks to security robot patrolling strip mall (www.kctv5.com)

submitted 1 month ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

131 comments fedilink hide all child comments

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/19944734

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A sight previously thought to be science fiction is very real at a southeast Kansas City shopping center. Instead of a police officer, a security robot has been patrolling sidewalks and shoppers are taking notice.

Since Marshall the robot has been on the job, shoppers say the experiences have completely changed when they come to these stores. The robot can spend 23 hours a day monitoring the parking lot from all angles which gives people a new sense of protection and ease they don’t always have when out.

Marshall took over security at Brywood Centre in April. Before that, Karen White noticed a lot of trouble outside the shopping center.

“Sometimes it’d be concerning for your car like someone could take it or something,” White said.

Knowing now that Marshall is always watching, the risk of crime does not worry her or others as much.

“It made it very better, like you can’t be in the parking lot without seeing the robot,” White continued. “So, I think it scared them off.”

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 month ago (35 children)

I live under a rock and don't get out much due to physical disability, but I don't see a security improvement. I see a data mining monstrosity and further reason to avoid local retail.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (26 children)

They are already data mining you without these robots.

They use facial recognition on cameras. They use OCR on your license plate and scan your toll pass. They use your phone location if you connect to their "free" wifi. They track your bluetooth devices that's constantly looking to connect. They track you foot traffic and see what stores, what aisle, what product you picked it up and how long you had it in your hands.

Google "Target loss prevention" stories of frequent shoplifters that had profiles on them for months and stop them when they can charge for grand larceny rather than petite larceny. There is a reason why Westfield malls are everywhere. It's easier for them to control their own data than to constantly buy or contract out data from other companies.

These bots are probably getting more data but they are more for security. A moving camera is more of criminal deterrent just because it is moving. These bots are so they don't have to pay for more security guards than anything else.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

@IllNess @j4k3

I turn my Bluetooth, NFC and Wi-Fi on when i need to use them, otherwise they're off.

Partly for privacy but also for battery life.

Do most people leave those on all the time?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

I don't have stats to back this up but most people, like high 90%, don't turn any of that off.