This AI tool can now turn ordinary household photos into location clues — so could law forces use the technology to scope out your home?
US police are using an AI tool to detect the location of properties based on interior photos, but the way tool accumulates its data drawn concern from Airbnb, Zillow, and others
A new AI tool called Raven can identify the location of a property by analyzing interior photos that capture fixtures, fittings, and decorative elements. The software relies on data scraped from websites like Airbnb and Zillow to cross-reference the details and pinpoint properties. Law enforcement agencies in Florida and California have already started using Raven to tackle crimes such as human trafficking.
While the software's primary purpose is to aid in investigations, it raises privacy concerns as innocent homeowners may have their homes exposed if their interiors are available online. The developers of Raven, Graylark, have downplayed these privacy issues, focusing instead on the software's potential to help investigators find leads for criminal cases.
However, the companies whose data Raven uses to function, such as Airbnb, have voiced concerns about how their information is being used. For Raven to be widely adopted by other police departments, it will need to respect regional privacy laws and establish partnerships with the websites it scrapes.
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