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...have rolled out a program to broadcast crime updates, photos of wanted and missing people, and safety notifications to Amazon Echo owners. One has to wonder

• e40 9y ago
  It's to keep people afraid. An afraid populace is easier to control.
  • ForRealsies 9y ago
    It's to keep people vigilant. You would rather people keep their heads in the sand, focused on their Circus & Bread?
• provost 9y ago
  The iPhone already does safety, weather, and police notifications by default, and you have to opt-out. This is essentially the same thing, but users have to opt-in.
• pbhjpbhj 9y ago
  In a local FB group we get crime updates, allows you to be active in avoiding beginning a victim; and to be vigilant to help those around you. Tiny example - you might not think twice seeing someone fiddling with a house sign, but knowing there had been a recent spate of thefts (yes, really) one could challenge or report as appropriate. More serious example - several attempts to abduct children within a few days of each other allowed me to remind my kids of safe behaviour; as well as reminding myself to be vigilant. I always read the "missing" reports in the local news as I see a lot of people and have, I believe, a good memory for faces. Given it's easy to avoid, why would you not want it. Good citizenship makes society better IMO.
  • dazc 9y ago
    'Given it's easy to avoid, why would you not want it.' Experience of similar programs in the UK which start off as well-meaning endeavours but soon become nothing more annoying forms of 'official' spam. I get the point about ultra local events but, here at least, the police seem to be always the last people to know about stuff happening at this level.