Geofeedia is used to track social media users, using location-based social media monitoring that provides real-time data on users in a specified area. You target a specific area and anyone on social media in that area will pop-up. You can even see posts made by individual users.

Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter partnered with Geofeedia and the police to target black activists.

There have been protests all around the country in the wake of the police shootings of unarmed black men. When protests were taking place all around the country, Geofeedia was able to track individuals attending any specific protest.

Some may remember protestors talking about their counterparts being swept away by the police for no reason; well a Geofeedia case study revealed that law enforcement used facial recognition software to pinpoint specific protestors from their social media photos.

They then matched that information to outstanding warrants and arrested protestors “directly from the crowd.”

Facebook, which owns Instagram, said Geofeedia only had access to data users had already made public but never spoke of the access they had on Instagram:

“Its access was subject to the limitations in our Platform Policy, which outlines what we expect from developers that receive data using the Facebook Platform. If a developer uses our user data in a way that has not been authorized, we will take swift action to stop them and we will end our relationship altogether if necessary.”

Twitter responded also responded but did not explain the nature of their relationship with Geofeedia:

“Based on information in the @ACLU’s report, we are immediately suspending @Geofeedia’s commercial access to Twitter data.”

According to dictionary.com an activist is an especially active, vigorous advocate of a cause, especially a political cause. These activists they targeted are seeking fair treatment of all people, compassion, love and respect for black men, women and children. Not terrorists, not a hate group, and not thugs just people wanting all people to be treated fairly.

So we must ask ourselves if this much effort goes into tracking down members of hate groups like the KKK? What about the fan page created to celebrate the murder of Trayvon Martin, did they use Geofeedia to track down those hateful individuals?

What about the rumor that is continuously arising about the KKK infiltrating law enforcement? More effort should be spent trying clean house in law enforcement instead trying to criminalize people fighting for justice!