Google is part of a Customs and Border Protection plan to use machine learning for surveillance, documents reviewed by The Intercept reveal.

Five years after Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian assured employees that the company was “not working on any projects associated with immigration enforcement at the southern border,” federal contract documents reviewed by The Intercept show that the tech giant is at the center of project to upgrade the so-called virtual wall.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is planning to modernize older video surveillance towers in Arizona that provide the agency an unblinking view of the border.

A key part of the effort is adding machine-learning capabilities to CBP cameras, allowing the agency to automatically detect humans and vehicles as they approach the border without continuous monitoring by humans. CBP is purchasing computer vision powers from two vendors, IBM and Equitus. Google, the documents show, will play a critical role stitching those services together by operating a central repository for video surveillance data.

    • DarkCloud@lemmy.worldEnglish
      19·
      21 hours ago

      No, they’re helping their team mate. The one who gives them tax breaks and deregulates the restrictions on what they can do, with data.

      They’re on the same side. Ideology is the lie. Class warfare is the truth.

    • db2@lemmy.worldEnglish
      12·
      21 hours ago

      IBM helped actual Hitler, so it’s really not surprising. Goggle removed “don’t be evil” for a reason.

      • Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        3·
        17 hours ago

        I’d guess they put “don’t be evil” in early on as a honeypot to lure in a user base. Once we gave them enough power they didn’t need to pretend.

  • sunzu2@thebrainbin.org
    141·
    20 hours ago

    Mega corps gonna mega corp lol

    Deny the parasite profit and engagement

    Google build their core business on being customer facing company… We allowed them to get this big

    • katy ✨@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      2·
      14 hours ago

      youtube but with adblockers.

      the only other one is Google TV just to watch the shows i already purchased since i can’t find a way to rip out the drm

    • BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      17 hours ago

      I’m finally starting to pull the trigger on dumping Google (specifically because of this event). For me at least it’s been a combination of, “They’re not that bad,” and, “This is basically like moving to another state.”

      The guides I’ve seen lately about what replaces what is a good start but there should really be more in-depth guides for either moving over your data or just how to get started. Just naming alternatives is about as helpful as suggesting “raising chickens” as an alternative to high egg prices.