The billionaire eBay founder donates almost $2 million to relieve the police – while funding private security apps
The billionaire eBay founder has donated almost $2 million to help relieve the police force – while making a significant contribution to a private security startup called Uber for Bodyguards.
Pierre Omidyar donated $500,000 to organizations protesting the death of George Floyd in 2020 through his philanthropic organization, the Omidyar Network.
Omidyar Network donated $100,000 to Equity and Transformation, a local group that worked with Movement for Black Lives to “fund police funding.”
Two other organizations affiliated with the Omidyar network, PolicyLink and Democracy Fund, received a substantial sum of $1.3 million Independent journalist Lee Fang who uncovered these financial transactions.
These funds were provided to support the creation of DefundPolice.org, an online platform used by advocates of defunding or abolishing the police force.
The founder of the renowned e-commerce platform has a net worth of $8.91 billion
Omidyar’s mega-estate in Nevada boasts a whopping 75,000 square feet of living space with 11 bedrooms, 35 bathrooms, an indoor racquetball court and more
Omidyar Network donated $100,000 to Equity and Transformation, a local group that worked with Movement for Black Lives to help “defund the police.”
The Black Lives Movement has recently expressed its stance on police defunding, stating unequivocally, “When we say ‘abolish defunds and abolish the police,’ we mean exactly that.” These words reiterate the organization’s commitment to theirs Matter.
According to Fang, Omidyar has since invested in startups that specialize in monetizing the growing demand for private security.
One such investment is Bond, an app that instantly provides licensed bodyguards. According to Doron Kempel, the founder and former Special Forces of the Israel Defense Forces, the app is described as a way for customers to order a bodyguard as easily as ordering a takeaway.
Bond, a personal safety platform for iOS and Android, allows users to hire their own bodyguards to escort them to meetings, escort them home, or safely get them from one bar to another during a wild night.
The app also features location tracking, video surveillance, and agents who notify authorities and an emergency contact if necessary
Founded in 2017, the company has raised $72 million in funding, including investments from Omidyar, according to Omidyar New York Post.
The Uber for Bodyguards app has specifically identified itself as a “service that will benefit from concerns about deteriorating public safety,” Fang said.
The app advertises, “In most situations where you, your loved ones, or co-workers feel uneasy or unsafe, it’s too soon to call 911 as it’s not an emergency yet, but you still need a professional.” by your side.” Then it may be too late to call 911 because you are unable to do so. “Bond Security Agents are on hand 24/7 to proactively monitor and intervene before an emergency occurs.”
The Uber for Bodyguards app explicitly bills itself as a “service that will benefit from concerns about deteriorating public safety.”
These funds were provided to support the creation of DefundPolice.org, an online platform used by advocates of defunding or abolishing the police force
Both the Bond app and Deep Sentinel have used rising crime and the police defund moment as promotional tools for their apps
The billionaire eBay founder, who has donated nearly $2 million to help fund the police force, has made a significant contribution to a private security startup.
Security forces can also video monitor and contact emergency services
According to Fang, Omidyar has also invested in Deep Sentinel, an AI-powered security camera system used to identify intruders.
Both the Bond app and Deep Sentinel have used the rising crime and Defund the Police moment as an opportunity to promote their apps.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the founder of the renowned e-commerce platform has a net worth of $8.91 billion.
Omidyar’s mega-estate in Nevada features a whopping 75,000 square feet of living space with 11 bedrooms, 35 bathrooms, an indoor racquetball court, an indoor endless pool, and an indoor rock-climbing wall.
According to Forbes magazine in 2023 he will be the 220th richest person in the world. Omidyar owns interests in resort properties in California and Mexico and is developing properties in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
He is also the founder of First Look Media, parent company of online news site The Intercept and entertainment company Topic Studios.
Forbes named Omidyar one of the 25 Most Generous People in the United States this year. He has provided thousands of Kenyans with free income for 12 years and donated $50 million to the Honolulu-based Hawaii Community Foundation.
He also financially supported Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, who claims the company puts “profits before people.”
Dailymail.com has reached out to Omidyar Network for comment.