Thread by @josephfcox

New: AI cameras took over one small American town. Now they're everywhere.

Hundreds of docs show how Fusus brings usually separate camera feeds (doorbells, CCTV, drones) into one central hub for cops and adds AI to them. Object recognition, "people" more 404media.co/fusus-ai-camer…

First, this article is based on hundreds of docs we got by doing FOIAs with police departments across the U.S. This work is expensive, and cost us hundreds of dollars (I know that sounds small, but it's not for us). Please subscribe to let us do this work: 404media.co/fusus-ai-camer…

As for the story, Fusus has quietly expanded across the U.S. It takes camera feeds that are usually siloed (including private businesses and residences) and brings them together as one for the police. Police can often view in real-time. For doorbell here: 404media.co/fusus-ai-camer…

It works with people providing access to their own cameras. This involves a small piece of hardware that essentially latches onto the camera. People can either just inform police of their cameras location so cops request data later, or provide live feed 404media.co/fusus-ai-camer…

Eventually this is the sort of UI the police will get: a map of all available cameras, either to request data from or tap into directly. Public cameras, doorbells, churches, schools, more 404media.co/fusus-ai-camer…

Fusus also adds AI to these feeds, turning dumb cameras into smart ones. It can scan across the feeds for different objects, vehicles, clothing, and “people.” One screenshot shows a confidence rating of around 50% 404media.co/fusus-ai-camer…

Law enforcement seems happy with Fusus. Many of the docs came from Starkville PD, where reps say the system has been used in apprehensions. "It's instant" 404media.co/fusus-ai-camer…