Meet the AI-Driven Decoy Designed to Mimic College Protesters for Law Enforcement
Pinal County Board of Supervisors Meeting on Contract Approval
In a recent meeting held on June 5, the Pinal County Board of Supervisors discussed a proposed contract worth $500,000 with a company named Massive Blue. The purpose of this agreement was to license a software known as Overwatch, which is designed to assist law enforcement in combating complex crimes, particularly human trafficking, drug trafficking, and gun trafficking.
Concerns Raised About Massive Blue
During the meeting, Kevin Cavanaugh, then the supervisor for District 1, expressed his concerns regarding the lack of information available about Massive Blue. He pointed out that the company’s website only offered a limited overview with no additional resources or links for more details. Cavanaugh questioned Matthew Thomas, the Chief Deputy at the Sheriff’s Office, asking, “They produce software that we buy, and it does what? Can you explain that to us?”
In response, Thomas indicated that he could not disclose specific details about the software due to the sensitive nature of its functions and the potential risks involved. He clarified that the software is intended to help investigators build cases related to significant crimes, namely human trafficking, drug trafficking, and gun trafficking.
Functionality and Effectiveness of Overwatch
Cavanaugh further probed into the software’s effectiveness, asking if it had been successful in any law enforcement efforts. Thomas confirmed that although they had not yet made any arrests, the software had provided a promising proof of concept. He assured the board members that the initial results were satisfactory enough for the investigators to advocate for moving forward with the contract. Thomas mentioned, “Once this gets approved and we get them [Massive Blue] under contract, then we are going to move forward with prosecution of cases.”
In light of Cavanaugh’s inquiries about Overwatch’s use in other jurisdictions, Thomas invited Clem, a recently retired border agent, to provide additional insights. Clem mentioned that Massive Blue was also in discussions with three other counties in Arizona, including Pinal County.
The Importance of Overwatch in Investigations
Clem has lived in Pinal County for 14 years and emphasized the critical role the software could play in the fight against various forms of exploitation, including online child exploitation and trafficking. "To be able [to] use this program […] to provide all the necessary information to go after the online exploitation of children, trafficking victims, and all the other verticals that the sheriff may want to go after,” he stated.
When questioned again about any arrest outcomes resulting from the software, Clem admitted that while there had been no arrests yet, they were currently investigating an arson case, aided by leads generated from Overwatch. He acknowledged that investigations take time but reassured the board that they had produced necessary leads for both public safety and private sector inquiries.
Deferred Decision on Funding
The meeting concluded with the board deciding to approve payments for several unrelated projects, but members agreed to postpone the vote on the Massive Blue contract for further evaluation. The decision to stall the funding for Massive Blue attracted local media attention.
Cavanaugh shared his views with a local newspaper, highlighting his concerns about the proposed contract. “The State of Arizona has provided a grant, but grant money is taxpayer money. No matter the source of the funding, fighting human and sex trafficking is too important to risk half a million dollars on unproven technology,” he stated. He explained that if Massive Blue could demonstrate its ability to produce evidence leading to the arrest of human traffickers, the investment might then be justified. However, he emphasized that this goal had yet to be accomplished.
