Crowdsourcing to Improve Security
Many of us are familiar with the idea of crowdsourcing. Corporations and the Government both use crowdsourcing to generate data, raise awareness campaigns, and produce ideas. So, what if we used crowdsourcing to enhance our security and bridge communication gaps between the Government and American citizens at the same time?
In the not so distant past, witnesses to an incident were labeled ‘passive bystanders’, people who most likely would – and should – leave the situation to professionals. However, more recently, authorities, institutions, and companies have come to learn that when a drastic event occurs, some segment of the population will jump into action. More importantly, there is a growing belief that this behavior should be actively encouraged, especially when seconds matter and expert assistance won’t be immediately on scene. Homeland Security agencies should begin to view citizens as they are; rapid responders and security partners at the events of major catastrophes and drastic events.
The Federal Government has crowdsourced American citizens as active security partners before. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched a public campaign ad in 2010 called “If You See Something, Say Something.” FEMA’s new campaign, “You Are the Help Until Help Arrives”, is a more recent example of the Federal Government encouraging American citizens to be first responders to emergencies. This new campaign urges citizens to be First Aid responders when life-threatening trauma occurs. FEMA recognizes American citizens can save lives, and provides numerous training opportunities for people to educate themselves on how to become a first responder in a medical emergency.
In addition, many programs around the country now offer Bystander Intervention Training, often in the form of a curriculum that teaches citizens how to best respond to different emergencies. The purpose of Bystander Intervention Training is to turn passive bystanders into active bystanders that can react to emergencies in seconds.
It is far more likely that an ordinary American citizen, and not a trained professional, will be in the best position to respond to an emergency, be it applying First Aid, reacting to an active shooter, organizing emergency management, or quickly alerting authorities. Sometimes, seconds do matter. The implications of American citizens becoming first responders are boundless. Countless lives can be saved, security threats can be stopped and prevented, and our communities can be safer. This is a call to participate in security – focusing on action and even sharing ideas on how the community can help.
About Arc Aspicio
Arc Aspicio is a management, strategy, and technology consulting firm that takes a mission-oriented approach to complex client challenges. As a rapidly growing company, Arc Aspicio has a bold strategy for 2016-2018 that drives growth through new capabilities in strategy, design, human capital, data analytics, information sharing, cybersecurity, and strategic communications. The company is known for a strong, collaborative culture that values gratitude – for its clients and its great team. And, #welovedogs! Follow us on Twitter @arcaspicio or learn more at www.arcaspicio.com.
