
According to a study published in Nature Human Behaviour, Black drivers in America were 20% more likely than white drivers to be stopped and 1.5 to 2x as likely to be searched.
Harvard researchers also found that Blacks were three times more likely to be shot by police officers.
Davis said that a drivers license meant to him that he would be out in the world, and I couldn't protect him." Davis spoke to "Good Morning America." "I was just pondering: "What can I do?" "How can I keep connected and not let this young man go off the beaten path?
The Just Us app was launched in August. It currently has around 3,000 users. Named after the word "justice", it is a play on that word.
The app has three major features.
"Check-In", which will notify designated contacts that the person has been safe, and send their current location.
"Heads Up", which notifies the designated contacts that the person has been pulled over by law enforcement and sends their current location. Then, live streaming begins. "Help" will start live streaming and notify everyone within 3 miles of the app that the person requires assistance.
All features can be operated with one voice, which Davis insists on because of the harsh realities many Black drivers have to face.
Davis stated, "We know that many incidents occur when people reach for things." "So the voice activation was so crucial to me because you arent reaching for anything.
There are no misinterpretations there."
Davis was busy, but she went above and beyond to help, even financing the project.
"She was so dedicated to it that she used herself money," Candace Walker (a social impact technologist who worked alongside Davis on the app), told "GMA." This technology is not cheap to create, as you can see.
It was huge.
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Davis stated that she could not put a value on her financial support.
Davis also believes that accountability and connection are important. He said the app holds everyone accountable, and that the more people download it, the safer it will be.
She said, "Just from a cultural aspect, weve always -- as African Americans or people of color -- put safety in the hands of someone else." "And this is just one way to put it back into ours in peace.
We are connecting with law enforcement to say, "This protects not only me but you also."
The apps functionality goes beyond driving. It can be used in any situation that puts someone in danger.
Davis stated that one young lady told Davis she used the device on campus night terrors when she was afraid. It was so much fun for her to have it.
Location data can be used to raise safety concerns to policymakers and to drive change. Walker pointed out that data can be used to pinpoint areas with high incidents reports, down to street corners.
Davis shared her experiences working with families that have been victims of domestic violence or sex trafficking in order to show how the app can be applied in these situations.
She said that even if the phone was stolen, they could still see if they needed help and would be able to locate them to help.
"And the phone wont be talking so that if they are being harmed, they would know that police are on the way."