“subscription law enforcement service” means “militia forces for hire” https://t.co/YMda1NcOGt

— Dr. Reading ? (@Hood_Biologist) May 21, 2021

can't wait for NextDoor and Citizen mercenaries to fight for Brooklyn's sovereignty https://t.co/gtsJqjuoej

— Emanuel Maiberg (@emanuelmaiberg) May 21, 2021

The Gulf Monarchies have apps like this they use against migrant workers and it's one of the most horrific systems on earth

Moreover, ICE must be destroyed https://t.co/2fC93DFnEk

— ICE must be destroyed ? (@Itmechr3) May 21, 2021

In one of the tests, Citizen dispatched a private security force to escort a Citizen employee to get coffee. Apparently the response times of this feature have improved https://t.co/hvvdkSxaCl pic.twitter.com/kMD6mdUgti

— Joseph Cox (@josephfcox) May 21, 2021

Just deleted Citizen. Living in LA, it was nice to have an app with explanations for any given overhead helicopter, but if this is the price then I ain’t buyin’. https://t.co/wew17kLZI3

— Chris Conroy (@ConroyForReal) May 21, 2021

Two sources confirmed the product is essentially on-demand private security through the app https://t.co/hvvdkSOM0V pic.twitter.com/qGK7gJDYKE

— Joseph Cox (@josephfcox) May 21, 2021

Anyone even *remotely* familiar with how Citizen has been used historically should be absolutely horrified at the prospect of this vigilante nonsense. https://t.co/3b3kPh7Ax9

— Mike Masnick (@mmasnick) May 21, 2021

Crystal clear that the name change from “Vigilante” was purely cosmetic and in no way indicates improved level of responsibility. https://t.co/SJRJ0Dhp1g

— file under “anti-surveillance” (@hypervisible) May 21, 2021

YIKES: "Citizen's original name, before it was removed from the Apple App Store, was Vigilante"

Story: @josephfcox https://t.co/5acZtY9dg6

— John Scott-Railton (@jsrailton) May 21, 2021

SCOOP: Leaked emails show that Citizen app is testing an on-demand, real-life private security force that will respond to "incidents" as requested by app usershttps://t.co/UEnitAwugy

— Jason Koebler (@jason_koebler) May 21, 2021

Citizen's investors are Sequoia, Greycroft, RRE, Haystack, Kapor https://t.co/4RUfSfKyaa

— Tom Dotan (@cityofthetown) May 21, 2021

?‍♀️ raise your hand if you're been saying for years that on-demand private security is the logical conclusion of racist snitching apps like Citizen https://t.co/N0A2p0l6sU

— The PS1 startup sound, but as a person (@zenalbatross) May 21, 2021

Literally have “private security” casually driving around places like LA but I’m supposed to car that you don’t like being called a “name” ?? https://t.co/H02O5wU3XN

— Clarkisha Kent (@IWriteAllDay_) May 21, 2021

Included this second image of the Citizen-branded car in Los Angeles in the piece. Linked to Los Angeles Professional Security, a private contractor. Our leaked emails show Citizen working with them for on-demand private security https://t.co/hvvdkSxaCl pic.twitter.com/sYd3tRMVCE

— Joseph Cox (@josephfcox) May 21, 2021

Who could see this coming https://t.co/4ppRxDp39e

— Rebecca Fishbein (@bfishbfish) May 21, 2021

Spoke to multiple sources with knowledge of Citizen's effort to offer a private security force to app users.

"It's been something discussed for a while but I personally never expected it to make it this far." https://t.co/hvvdkSOM0V pic.twitter.com/L9nmYYTrLb

— Joseph Cox (@josephfcox) May 21, 2021

No way this leads to anything bad! https://t.co/CyQ02KKjU9

— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) May 21, 2021

Scoop: leaked emails, documents, sources show the crime app Citizen is testing an on-demand private security force. You request assistance through the app, a private security force comes to help in minutes. Drastic escalation of what Citizen offers https://t.co/hvvdkSOM0V

— Joseph Cox (@josephfcox) May 21, 2021

If only there were an alternative to private security forces that could be deployed at the request of citizens. https://t.co/jRY7S2Kcoc

— Aaron Sibarium (@aaronsibarium) May 21, 2021

Welp, this is some dystopian sci fi shit coming to life right in front of our eyes: https://t.co/gFRfZuzPCa

— Brian McCullough (@brianmcc) May 21, 2021

incredible that this nightmare product is called, of all things, "citizen" https://t.co/KKps03EqGs

— Quinta Jurecic (@qjurecic) May 21, 2021

NEW: Leaked emails show crime app Citizen is testing an on-demand private security force that would be deployed at the request of users.

"The broad master plan was to create a privatized secondary emergency response network," said Citizen ex employee.https://t.co/siNXVJJjic

— Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai (@lorenzofb) May 21, 2021

So, one of the sticking points with abolishing the constabulary is the bourgeoisie will hire their own https://t.co/lTN3mq30Dv

— Ayo Hirschman (@contextproblem) May 21, 2021

I reviewed internal Slack messages showing the CEO of Citizen personally offered to pay a reward for a homeless man falsely accused of starting the Palisades Fire in LA.

Citizen hosted a livestream where its hosts encouraged users to "hunt down" the man. https://t.co/6SJVtGQHOB

— Scott Morris (@OakMorr) May 21, 2021

How much of customer demand for private security forces as a service (or building a private, less-accountable layer on top of the emergency response system) is influenced by the ill effects of the housing crisis? https://t.co/HQLb8coc3M

— ᴅᴇʀᴇᴋ ᴍᴇᴀᴅ (@derektmead) May 21, 2021

Today’s dispatch from hell https://t.co/d9dLbFbIT1

— Edward Ongweso Jr (@bigblackjacobin) May 21, 2021

broke: swatting is a crime
woke: swatting is an app https://t.co/rZZAK64EqC

— Etienne Poliwhirl ? (@SegaCD8) May 21, 2021

One of the truly wild section of the emails: says Citizen has pitched its on-demand private security force as a solution to the LAPD. LAPD allegedly thought it could be a game changer. https://t.co/95gh6zUfUb pic.twitter.com/Ruj5YSKZL4

— Joseph Cox (@josephfcox) May 21, 2021

corporate para police from your fave neighborhood surveillance app https://t.co/2Db1KSm4ND

— erin taylor (@erinisaway) May 21, 2021

I can only imagine what many of these users would cite as "incidents" to a private security force, but either way we don't need a gig economy for law enforcement. https://t.co/Z4YtnhiRY4

— Michael Arceneaux (@youngsinick) May 21, 2021

The tech industry responding to a dissolving society with more cop shit.

Almost all "innovation" now is grounded in coercion, surveillance, automation, deskilling and a more atomized and inhumane culture. https://t.co/pbFsyYd4OE

— Brian Lamb (@brlamb) May 21, 2021

couldn't count the number of times I've heard residents of the Upper East Side — the affluent neighborhood I cover — insist that crime is skyrocketing (it's not), based entirely on the alerts they get from this terrible, paranoia-inducing app.https://t.co/cocfvBJcgo

— Nick Garber (@nick_garber) May 21, 2021

How is this not a bigger deal??? https://t.co/vMRxqudoGz

— Nani ?? (@lenubienne) May 21, 2021

Citizen CEO Personally Put Up the Bounty for Man Falsely Accused of Starting a Wildfire https://t.co/CjDNf2x1q2 pic.twitter.com/IdxpJ85Zqz

— Earther (@EARTH3R) May 21, 2021

Citizen has been an app for receiving information and some user generated content. On-demand private security forces are a dramatic, in-person escalation of that. Emails show one of the companies involved is Securitas https://t.co/hvvdkSOM0V pic.twitter.com/0FSIuafbUo

— Joseph Cox (@josephfcox) May 21, 2021

Major update: Citizen is testing an on-demand private security force, according to leaked emails, documents and sources. https://t.co/hvvdkSOM0V

— Joseph Cox (@josephfcox) May 21, 2021

In its statement, Citizen said it works with one of the private security companies to, perhaps, escort them late at night. But the emails show a different story: LAPD complaining about property crime, the on-demand private force could help against that https://t.co/hvvdkSOM0V

— Joseph Cox (@josephfcox) May 21, 2021

Of course the glaring context is that this company planning to offer an on-demand private security force is the same company that just put a $30,000 bounty on a random person's head. They hadn't done anything wrong. https://t.co/hvvdkSOM0V pic.twitter.com/AqZSn82WZX

— Joseph Cox (@josephfcox) May 21, 2021

One of the Citizen sources who described the on-demand private security force product to me: "Honestly Citizen as an app simply doesn't need to exist" https://t.co/hvvdkSOM0V pic.twitter.com/8cRKhUzABc

— Joseph Cox (@josephfcox) May 21, 2021

OK I'm sorry guys I got the mail mixed up, THIS is today's dispatch from hell https://t.co/6Z58nbKPRW

— Edward Ongweso Jr (@bigblackjacobin) May 21, 2021

White people really trying to Postmate the damn policehttps://t.co/jRmbqaHOrZ

— Off sides like how Worf rides with Starfleet (@ChrisCubas) May 21, 2021

wasn't "uber but for vigilantes" the subplot for westworld season 3?https://t.co/dvxua8f28V

— Socialism Train (@socialismtrain) May 21, 2021

who could have guessed that the crowdsourced police scanner app called CITIZEN? would go this route https://t.co/6ned1j3nqK

— Samantha Cole is OOO (@samleecole) May 21, 2021

Here's what Citizen said about the vehicle: "There is one vehicle in LA (no other cities) and it's a pilot program for our employees." Wouldn't say what it's for (collecting info? verifying reports? etc)https://t.co/Kywvt1hxB5 pic.twitter.com/qgERocjHHf

— Joseph Cox (@josephfcox) May 21, 2021

Citizen is the neighborhood watch, crime watching, vigilante app. Recently it offered $30,000 for info on a man it believed started a wildfire. Police arrested the man. But Citizen was wrong. Now Citizen is gaining a phyiscal presence in LA https://t.co/Kywvt1hxB5 pic.twitter.com/8d4kUOWfEC

— Joseph Cox (@josephfcox) May 21, 2021

New: crime app Citizen is driving a security vehicle around LA and won't say why. Citizen confirmed to me it's part of a pilot program. The vehicle is linked to a private security company that describes itself as a "subscription law enforcement service" https://t.co/Kywvt1hxB5

— Joseph Cox (@josephfcox) May 21, 2021

NEW: Crime app Citizen is driving a car around Los Angeles that looks a lot like a police car.

The vehicle is linked to another company that describes itself as a "subscription law enforcement service."https://t.co/qo1fdy7H2A

— Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai (@lorenzofb) May 21, 2021

Today in Dystopia https://t.co/q9l5NiERHc

— ? Brian Clevinger (@bclevinger) May 21, 2021

It appears the vehicle is connected to a private security company that describes itself as a "subscription law enforcement service." https://t.co/hsbDcnf2OQ

— Motherboard (@motherboard) May 21, 2021

Citizen's original name, before it was removed from the Apple App Store, was Vigilante https://t.co/Kywvt1hxB5 pic.twitter.com/hLzatBl0Ik

— Joseph Cox (@josephfcox) May 21, 2021

Motherboard: Crime App Citizen is Driving a Security Car Around L.A. and Won’t Say Why https://t.co/VJ1fnKO6EO pic.twitter.com/4iQHeY7g0a

— FOIA // FEED (@FOIAFeed) May 21, 2021

The rear of the vehicle reads "Los Angeles Professional Security." That's a private security company in the city that offers patrols, K-9, video surveillance. They wear gear with LAPS on the back; may appear to be cops at a glance. https://t.co/Kywvt1hxB5 pic.twitter.com/yja9V6rSPF

— Joseph Cox (@josephfcox) May 21, 2021

many of us have been wondering for a while, what is Citizen's business model? how do they plan to monetize their app? well it seems like starting a "subscription law enforcement service" might be it https://t.co/RRyLGIXNKu

— Alison Macrina (@flexlibris) May 21, 2021

I really thought my cyberpunk dystopia would feature more chrome and neon https://t.co/O9R3BNNXK1

— Andrea Phillips (@andrhia) May 21, 2021

Today in digital Pinkertons: https://t.co/Wj2AjZvAFj

— Evan Simko-Bednarski (@simko_bednarski) May 21, 2021

Oh shit, check this out. Just stumbled on this totally unrelated to your tweeting... https://t.co/oiYf3B5L2Z

— Ryan??? (@geekryan) May 21, 2021

This is a libertarian billionaire’s dream: for-profit security forces, dispatched to scenes through an app.

If police were defunded, this is what would fill the vacuum.

Imagine use of force complaints being routed to a GE/Koch/Mercer/Thiel/ support line.https://t.co/VYkRkyuvFV

— ClearingTheFog (@clearing_fog) May 22, 2021

Citizen would deploy private security forces at the request of app users, according to documents and sources. https://t.co/VBKIEOR3nP

— Motherboard (@motherboard) May 22, 2021

This is so bad. A tech company – one all about fearmongering and racism for clicks – moving to create a private police force.https://t.co/WjeE3iPxUc

— maya (@mayavada) May 22, 2021

? GIVE ?NEXTDOOR ? PMCs https://t.co/1yyoU0sWTD

— Rob Zacny (@RobZacny) May 21, 2021

The vehicle is linked to a private security company which describes itself as a "subscription law enforcement service." https://t.co/1dadWQGR1s

— Motherboard (@motherboard) May 21, 2021

Literally have “private security” casually driving around places like LA but I’m supposed to car that you don’t like being called a “name” ?? https://t.co/H02O5wU3XN

— Clarkisha Kent (@IWriteAllDay_) May 21, 2021

The crime app Citizen is driving a security car around LA, but they won’t say what they’re doing. Per Vice News, “It appears the vehicle is connected to a private security company that describes itself as a ‘subscription law enforcement service.’”
https://t.co/RHUTwC6o48

— Caroline Orr Bueno, Ph.D (@RVAwonk) May 21, 2021

Citizen is very obsessed with LA for reasons i do not understand but am very concerned by https://t.co/zgpYPQOdgT

— Jason Koebler (@jason_koebler) May 21, 2021