Apps Are Fighting Rio’s Deadly Gun Violence

by Jeff DonlanCan an app protect against gang violence in Rio de Janeiro? Two mobile apps are trying to do just that.More than 2,300 people have been murdered in the Brazilian capital state this year, including innocent bystanders hit by stray bullets. Now, two apps can track the battles in real time, alerting users to reports of shootings.Onde Tem Tiroteio, or Where Are the Firefights, collects reports of shootings based on eyewitnesses, media, and police reports.The app’s creators say the nearly 3 million users who get the alerts are who they are trying to protect most.In an effort to keep the huge influx of visitors out of the line of fire, Amnesty International launched a similar app ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics.Henrique Coelho Caamaño, the founder of Onde Tem Tiroteio, says he’s not so concerned with the popularity of his app.“I keep saying I don’t want a million ‘likes,'” he said. “I only want to save lives.”
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