SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Axon (Nasdaq:
AAXN), the global leader in connected public safety technologies,
today announced that it is launching the industry's first
AI-powered system built from the ground up using an ethical design
and privacy-centric framework. Axon will integrate Automated
License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology into its next
generation in-car video system, Axon Fleet 3, incorporating
guidelines created by Axon's AI and Policing Technology Ethics
Board. The company is announcing its AI-based ALPR capability 12
months ahead of initial deployments as part of a collaborative
effort to define best practices and a model framework for
implementation through conversations with leading public safety and
civil liberties groups and the Ethics Board.
Axon and its Ethics Board will work with public safety thought
leaders and diverse community leaders to develop a model framework
for law enforcement agencies to responsibly and ethically deploy
this technology consistent with the Ethics Board's guidance, which
was set forth in their report published today.
"ALPR is an important tool for keeping communities safe as it
can help apprehend criminals, find missing children, and recover
stolen vehicles," says Axon CEO and founder, Rick Smith. "We do, however, recognize that
there are legitimate concerns about privacy protections,
constitutionality of search and data security issues that need to
be addressed. We embrace that we have an ethical obligation to
develop this technology thoughtfully and bring new privacy
safeguards to the industry. While building ALPR, we'll be
addressing items such as data retention and data ownership,
creating an ethical framework to help prevent misuse of the
technology."
Axon is leveraging the power of AI to significantly reduce the
cost of ALPR systems, making it affordable for every patrol. Axon
is simultaneously addressing industry short-comings to improve data
security, transparency and privacy as declining costs enable more
widespread use of the technology. Axon plans to work
collaboratively with communities to better understand and implement
controls such as maximum retention periods and transparency
tools.
One recommendation in the Ethics Board's report calls for agency
ownership and control over the captured license plate data,
declaring that data should not be sold for commercial purposes. For
years, Axon has protected digital evidence by maintaining a secure
cloud-based system that allows agencies to control data, ensuring
use only for public safety purposes. Consistent with the Ethics
Board's recommendations, Axon will maintain that same high level of
security and privacy standards with ALPR data.
"We have not, and will not ever sell public safety data. We
believe the data is owned by public safety agencies and the
communities they serve, and should not be resold to private
entities whose interests may not be aligned with the public good,"
concluded Smith.
"The unregulated use of ALPRs has exposed millions of people
subject to surveillance by law enforcement, and the danger to our
basic civil rights is only increasing as the technology is becoming
more common," says Ethics Board member Barry Friedman, founder of the Policing Project
at the New York University School of
Law and the Jacob D. Fuchsberg Professor of Law at
New York University. "If government is
going to continue to abdicate its responsibility to regulate this
technology appropriately, and we hope it doesn't, it is incumbent
on companies like Axon to ensure that ALPRs serve the communities
who are subject to ALPR usage. This includes guardrails to ensure
their use does not compromise civil liberties or worsen existing
racial and socioeconomic disparities in the criminal justice
system."
Axon Fleet 3 will use AI for ALPR to help reduce officer
distraction. For example, when searching for stolen vehicles or
criminals today, patrol officers manually look up vehicle license
plates by typing into their computers. ALPR helps eliminate the
need for typing while driving. Today, most agencies deploy ALPR via
specialized vehicle units with plate recognition systems that cost
tens of thousands of dollars in only a portion of the vehicle
fleet. Axon Fleet 3 will integrate ALPR capability in the dashboard
camera of every patrol vehicle, allowing agencies to deploy more
coverage at a lower cost. Axon Fleet 3 will also enable Axon Aware
real-time telemetry and video streaming capabilities and will be
upgradeable to 5G to leverage low-latency connectivity for enhanced
real-time services and direct video offload to the cloud.
Axon will be previewing Axon Fleet 3 at the 126th annual
International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference,
this week in Chicago at Axon's
booth number 2211. There, Axon will be demonstrating enhanced 5G
real-time services.
About Axon
Axon is a global network of devices, apps, training and people
that helps public safety personnel become smarter and safer. With a
mission of protecting life, our technologies give customers the
confidence, focus and time they need to protect their communities.
Our products impact every aspect of a public safety officer's
day-to-day experience.
We work hard for those who put themselves in harm's way for all
of us. To date, there are more than 397,800 software seats booked
on the Axon network around the world and more than 223,000 lives
have been saved with the Axon network of devices, apps, training
and people. Learn more at www.axon.com or by calling (800)
978-2737.
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Axon, Axon Fleet, Axon Records, Axon Aware, Axon Detect and the
Delta Logo are trademarks of Axon Enterprise, Inc., some of which
are registered in the US and other countries. For more information,
visit www.axon.com/legal. All rights reserved.
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https://www.facebook.com/Axon.ProtectLife/
Note to Investors
Please visit http://investor.axon.com,
https://www.axon.com/press, www.twitter.com/axon_us and
https://www.facebook.com/Axon.ProtectLife/ where Axon discloses
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business.
CONTACT:
Carley Partridge
PR and Communications Manager
Press@axon.com
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