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Comment by IanCal | Hacker News Reader

Perhaps a different side to the comments already raised:

Why did YC invest in this? Are there published ethical rules YC tries to follow?

Why does YC invest in anything? I think it's because they see the potential to make money. I believe you are correct, there are YC ethical rules, but I don't think Sam and company have any qualms about violating those ethics for themselves, or even holding themselves to any ethics at all. If it makes money, they invest. Only when something bad happens do ethics suddenly become an issue.

Ethics are just words that they claim to take seriously until money is involved. See: Peter Thiel.

IanCal, sorry you feel this way. Our goal is simply to help police do their job. Today, only 13% of crime is solved due to lack of evidence. We are trying to help drive that number to 100% and eliminate crime in our neighborhoods.

What type of crime is your main target? Do you store video in addition to plate numbers? How accurate are your speed estimates at oblique angles?

I think you are getting some pushback because a lot of neighborhood watch groups have a reputation for looking out for "wrong looking people." The Trayvon Martin case surely didn't help, either.

Also, crime in the US is an all time low, but perception of crime is at an all time high. This is good for your product, but not for our society.

Surely you're aware of the tremendous potential for unethical uses. Do you have any concerns along those lines? Any steps to take to prevent it?

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