It is clear that the police have purchased the AI tool 'GeoSpy' that instantly identifies the location where a photo was taken
Cops Are Buying 'GeoSpy', an AI That Geolocates Photos in Seconds
https://www.404media.co/cops-are-buying-geospy-ai-that-geolocates-photos-in-seconds/
GeoSpy is an AI tool that instantly pinpoints the location of a photo using clues like buildings, plants, and roads. Developer Graylark Technologies claims it can pinpoint the location down to the meter by using a global dataset of images taken in countries and regions around the world, as well as high-density geotagged image data specific to specific cities and states.
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404 Media obtained a cache of internal police emails through a public records request and discovered that the Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office (MDSO) and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) have purchased access to GeoSpy. While Graylark Technologies has previously reported that GeoSpy is being used in law enforcement investigations, this is the first time that a police department has actually purchased GeoSpy.
'The Cybercrimes Unit has begun piloting a new analytical tool called GeoSpy. Initial testing shows potential for developing investigative leads by identifying geospatial and temporal patterns,' the MDSO email said.
According to an email sent by GeoSpy to MDSO in June 2025, MDSO has access to a global GeoSpy model that can identify the location of photos around the world, as well as a custom model trained specifically for Miami-Dade County. The email also stated that the LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division also uses GeoSpy.
The document attached to the email lists the total cost of MDSO's access to GeoSpy at $85,500,000, including a custom fee for Miami-Dade County of $38,000, two annual licenses with 350 searches each costing $10,000, and an additional 150,000 searches for $37,500.
While access to GeoSpy is limited to Cybercrime Division staff within the MDSO, employees from other departments can request GeoSpy testing by submitting an internal form. In an internal email, a Cybercrime Division official noted that GeoSpy is still in the testing and validation phase and is not perfect. 'GeoSpy output should be treated as a clue and should be corroborated using standard investigative techniques,' the official wrote.
In response to 404 Media's inquiry, a spokesperson for the MDSO said, 'We have purchased a limited number of licenses to evaluate GeoSpy's potential use in investigations into online child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The Cybercrimes Unit was involved because these cases frequently involve the use of digital evidence obtained from online platforms, and additional contextual information can help investigators narrow down leads.' 'To date, GeoSpy's use has been limited and primarily exploratory. It has been tested in a small number of cases, but has not led to any significant investigative breakthroughs or arrests.'
The LAPD did not respond to a request for comment.
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