Were Black homeless people in Atlanta targeted to improve Google’s facial-recognition software?

Atlanta officials have questions for Google. Mainly, did the technology giant target Black homeless people in the city to improve their facial-recognition software?

On Wednesday, The New York Daily News reported that a staffing agency hired by Google sent contractors to Atlanta and other cities to target Black people for facial scans. In Atlanta, according to one anonymous ex-worker, contractors gathered up homeless people figuring they would be less apt to report them to the media.

READ MORE: Former Google employee says company made him feel ‘the burden of being Black’

Still, word got out and on Friday, Nina Hickson, Atlanta’s city attorney, sent a letter to Google looking for answers.

“The possibility that members of our most vulnerable populations are being exploited to advance your company’s commercial interest is profoundly alarming for numerous reasons,” Hickson said in a letter to Kent Walker, Google’s legal and policy chief, according to The New York Times. “If some or all of the reporting was accurate, we would welcome your response as what corrective action has been and will be taken.”

Google maintains it hired contractors from Randstad to scan the faces of volunteers to improve its facial-recognition software, designed to allow users to unlock Google’s new phone just by looking at it. The idea was to capture a diverse sampling of faces to ensure the software worked with a variety of different skin tones, two Google executives said in an email to colleagues which was shared with The New York Times.

“Our goal in this case has been to ensure we have a fair and secure feature that works across different skin tones and face shapes,” the Google executives said in the email.

READ MORE: Google offers job to artist behind viral Juneteenth homepage sketch

However, Google representatives say they suspended the research and began an investigation into the allegations, a Google spokesman said.

“We’re taking these claims seriously,” the spokesman said in a statement, according to The New York Times.

The unnamed ex-employee told The New York Daily News that Randstad sent contractors to Atlanta to focus on Black homeless people instead. The worker added that a Google manager was not present when that order was made. A second unnamed contractor added in the interview that employees were told by Randstad to find homeless people and university students in California, because they would be most receptive to the $5 gift cards volunteers received in exchange for their facial scans.

Chile.

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Judge keeps special prosecutor in Jussie Smollett investigation

A Chicago judge on Friday ruled that he would keep in place a special prosecutor, who is investigating the handling of the Jussie Smollett case, despite a campaign contribution he made in 2016 to the state’s attorney, who dropped charges against the actor.

The Cook County Circuit Court Judge’s decision was delivered in a hearing after the special prosecutor, former U.S. Attorney Dan Webb, disclosed in a court filing that he co-hosted a 2016 fundraiser for Kim Foxx and gave $1,000 to her campaign for Cook County state’s attorney, reported ABC News. Foxx is Cook County’s first Black female state’s attorney.

READ MORE: Jussie Smollett hits back at critic who claims he lied about racist attack

Judge Michael Toomin said “there is no indication” that Webb’s disclosure would influence his decision on whether to ultimately reinstate charges against Smollett, and it is common practice for lawyers to contribute money to candidate campaigns.

“There’s no indication that (Webb) harbors any bias … to any party,” Toomin said, according to ABC News.

In March, Foxx dropped charges against Smollett, a former actor in the hit TV show Empire, for allegedly staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself. Smollett still says he was telling the truth and the attack was real.

The Osundairo brothers, Abel and Ola Osundairo, who are said to have perpetrated the attack, met with special prosecutor Webb this week to tell their side of the story, according to TMZ. Each brothers spent a few hours with the Webb’s team.

Before Toomin’s ruling, Webb told the judge that he didn’t even remember attending the fundraiser or writing out the check until someone recently told him.

“I don’t know Ms. Foxx …. and have never met her, as far as I know,” he said. “This is not even remotely a case that involves a conflict of interest.”

Webb, a former prosecutor who is now a sought after and highly respected private attorney, is investigating whether Foxx’s calls with a relative of Smollett and former aide to first lady Michelle Obama unduly influenced her decision to drop charges.

READ MORE: Terrence Howard on ‘Empire’ without Jussie Smollett: “The heart of our show is gone”

Prosecutor Cathy McNeil Stein, a Foxx representative during Friday’s hearing, told the judge that Foxx initially had no issues with Webb serving as special investigator, but now she worries about the perception of a conflict.

Retired Judge Sheila O’Brien, who initiated legal action leading to a special prosecutor, agreed. She told Toomin: “The concern I have is … what does the average person on the street think?” according to ABC News.

Smollett‘s attorneys didn’t oppose or back Webb. Initially, they were against the appointment of any special prosecutor, arguing that the charges were dropped and the case should have remained closed.

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Malik Yoba Speaks (Again): ‘The World Ain’t Always Ready for All People to Be Free’

Cue the violins.

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Saturday's Best Deals: David Archy Underwear, Snappy Popcorn Oil, Halloween Decor, and More

David Archy Men’s Micro Modal Trunks, Snappy Popcorn Supplies Coconut Oil, and a $10 off coupon on household supplies from Amazon lead off Saturday’s deals.

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Summer Walker drops highly anticipated debut album ‘Over It’

Summer Walker dropped her debut album, Over It, on Friday, and her fans were here for it.

Almost instantly after the album dropped, Walker started trending on Twitter, according to Newsweek. The Atlanta R&B singer’s album covers 18 tracks, including songs about secret love affairs, losing feelings for a love interest and the challenge of avoiding temptation.

Fans want Walker to know her music is already sending them on an emotional ride.

READ MORE: Lil Baby says Young Thug paid him to leave the hood to become a rapper

“Summer Walker about to leave us in our feelings for the rest of the year,” wrote Twitter user @Miss_Woods on Friday.

“This new Summer Walker is really nice,” added @joekay, who hosts and created Soulection Radio, a Beats 1 radio show. “So ill to hear her on tracks with Bryson, party and Usher especially.”

this new summer walker is really nice.

so ill to hear her on tracks with bryson, party, & usher especially.

— JOE KAY (@joekay) October 4, 2019

Others agree that the collaborations featured on the album are so dope. Walker features A Boogie wit da Hoodie, PARTYNEXTDOOR, 6lack, Bryson Tiller, Usher and Jhené Aiko, whom Walker had accompanied on the “Triggered (Freestyle)” remix that was released on Wednesday, according to Newsweek.

Over It also includes some lines from Drake on the “Girls Need Love Too” remix. Walker included the original version of the song on her 2018 EP, Last Day of Summer. Drake, who loved the track, reached out to her on Instagram to tell her as much, according to Walker in an interview with Billboard.

“I think [Drake] slid into the DMs and was like, ‘I saw your video on a bowling alley monitor—thought it was cool,” Walker told Billboard. “And then Justice [Daiden, co-founder of the LVRN record label to which Walker is signed] made me ask him to [jump on the song] and he said yes.”

READ MORE: Lil Nas X cancels shows and announces a break from music days after singer Fiona Apple calls him out

Walker is now tour-ready. She is teaming up with New York rapper Melii on The First & Last Tour, which is expected to hit North American cities including Los Angeles, Vancouver, New York City, Dallas, Memphis and many more.

Over It is now available on all streaming platforms including iTunes.

LISTEN TO THE ALBUM HERE:

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