The founding billionaire of eBay has donated nearly $2 million to fund the police – while also making a substantial contribution to a private security startup dubbed “Uber for Bodyguards”.
Pierre Omidyar donated $500,000 through his philanthropic entity, the Omidyar Network, to organizations protesting the death of George Floyd in 2020.
Omidyar Network donated $100,000 to Equity and Transformation, a grassroots group that partnered with Movement for Black Lives to help “defund the police.”
Two other organizations affiliated with the Omidyar network, PolicyLink and Democracy Fund, received a substantial sum of $1.3 million, according to Freelance journalist Lee Fang who uncovered these financial transactions.
This funding was allocated to support the creation of DefundPolice.org, an online platform used by advocates to defund or abolish the police.
The founder of the popular e-commerce platform has a reported net worth of $8.91 billion
Omidyar Nevada’s mega estate features 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 grassroots group that partnered with Movement for Black Lives to help ‘defund the police’
The Movement for Black Lives recently expressed its position on defunding the police, stating unequivocally, “When we say ‘defund and abolish the police,’ we mean exactly that.” These words reinforce the organization’s commitment to their cause.
Meanwhile, Omidyar has invested in start-ups that specialize in monetizing the growing demand for private security, according to Fang.
One such investment is Bond, an app that provides licensed bodyguards instantly. The app is described as a way for the customer to order a bodyguard as easily as a take-out dinner, according to founder and former Israel Defense Forces Special Forces Doron Kempel.
Bond, a personal security platform available for iOS and Android, allows users to hire their own bodyguards to escort them to meetings, drive them home, or even take them safely from bar to bar. each other on a wild night.
The app also offers location tracking, video surveillance, and officers who will notify authorities and emergency contact if needed.
The company, founded in 2017, has raised $72 million in funding, including investments from Omidyar, according to the New York Post.
The “Uber for bodyguards” app explicitly presented itself as a “service that stands to gain from concerns about deteriorating public safety,” Fang said.
The app announces: “In most situations where you, your loved ones or your employees feel uncomfortable or in danger – it is too early to dial 911 because it is not yet an emergency , but you still want a professional by your side. Then it might be too late to make a 911 call because you can’t. Bond security guards are on your side 24/7 to proactively monitor and intervene before it becomes an emergency.
The ‘Uber for bodyguards’ app explicitly marketed itself as a ‘service that stands to gain from concerns about deteriorating public safety’
This funding was allocated to support the creation of DefundPolice.org, an online platform used by advocates to defund or abolish the police
The Bond app and Deep Sentinel both used rising crime and canceled the police moment as a way to advertise their apps.
The founding billionaire of eBay, who has donated nearly $2 million to fund the police, has made a substantial contribution to a private security startup,
Security guards can also video monitor and contact emergency services
Omidyar has also invested in Deep Sentinel, an AI-powered security camera system that is used to identify intruders, according to Fang.
The Bond app and Deep Sentinel both used the rise in crime and the Defund the Police moment as a way to advertise their apps.
The founder of the popular e-commerce platform has a reported net worth of $8.91 billion, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Omidyar Nevada’s mega estate features 75,000 square feet of living space with 11 bedrooms, 35 bathrooms, indoor racquetball court, endless indoor pool, indoor rock climbing wall.
According to Forbes magazine, in 2023 he is the 220th richest person in the world. Omidyar holds interests in resort properties in California and Mexico and is developing real estate in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
He is also the founder of First Look Media, the 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 provided thousands of Kenyans with free income for 12 years and donated $50 million to the Honolulu-based Hawaii Community Foundation.
He has also financially backed Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, who says the company puts “profits before people”.
Dailymail.com has approached Omidyar Network for comment.
