(AP) - A San Francisco-based social media network created to connect neighbors online is making changes on how members can report suspicious activity after a Northern California group complained it was being used for racial profiling.
The change come after a group of residents in racially diverse Oakland complained the site that was created to share recommendations on plumbers or pass along information on used furniture was instead being used to post racially-based warnings about minorities.
Nextdoor.com CEO Nirav Tolia says neighbors who want to report a crime or warn about a suspicious person will have to fill out several forms asking them to describe criminal behavior before describing suspects. They will also be required to give a full description of the person and not just include race.
Oakland resident Shikira Porter, who helped create the changes, says they will force people to think about what they are reporting, instead of casting a wide net based on race.
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