Aaditya Agrawal, a 17-year-old high school student from New Jersey, developed and released the PulledOver app earlier this week. The app allows smartphone users to record encounters with the police and share the footage with contacts or on social media sites including Instagram and WhatsApp. PulledOver’s conception was sparked after a friend of Aaditya’s was pulled over by the police after a visit to a supermarket.“It was very clear to all of us that he had been pulled over because of the colour of his skin. He hadn’t done anything wrong. In my eyes, this was just not right.”
The app only asks that you add an emergency contact, there are no sign-ins or accounts needed. After that, the app brings you to your camera app. You record your interaction and then you have the option to share it. There’s also an integrated community platform where users can share experiences with each other.
We had a quick chat with Aaditya to discuss his app, inspiration and plans for the future.
What inspires you when working towards a goal?
The ability to make changes with my work is what really keeps me up at night. While I love the process of creating something, the most exciting thing for me is considering the impact it could have on a particular community.
Did you have any interest or experience in app development before you worked on PulledOver?
Yes, I did actually. I previously developed an app called SportConnect, which connects people through mutual love of the same sports.
What are your career aspirations?
I hope to continue using computer software for the good of the community. I believe that if we harness the power of technology, we can help to solve many issues in our society.
Limiting marketing to word-of-mouth is a great way to limit costs in a start-up. Are there other advantages that come with this restriction, or are you keen to get into paid advertising as soon as you can?
There is a certain authenticity that comes when you hear about an app from your friend or family member as opposed to an advert. However, paid advertising is something I have given serious thought to, as it would really help PulledOver reach many more people. As of yet, I don’t really think it’s feasible. However, I do believe that if we can come up with a model that allows PulledOver to reach more people (through donations, investors, etc.) then that would be a big step in the right direction.
Do you think PulledOver could become affiliated with law enforcement, even eventually becoming a state-mandated app?
That could be one of the end goals for PulledOver. How we get there we will have to wait and see.
How do we make progress with issues like police violence and discrimination? What could we be doing differently now to ensure a more hopeful outlook in the near future?
That’s a fantastic question and one that PulledOver actually hopes to address. I strongly believe that most police officers in our country are absolutely incredible at what they do. By celebrating good experiences and sharing them with those around us we get to say “hey, see, many officers are actually very good at their job”. Fixing this trust issue through sharing positive experiences between the authorities and the public will be instrumental in making progress.
I’m sure our members would be really excited to connect with you to follow your journey and potentially even get involved with any expansions. How can they do this?
Definitely, I am always open to hearing ideas and suggestions and would love to see how some members might want to get involved. I’d definitely also be able to make time for Zoom calls. They can reach me at my email, aaditya.agrawal36@gmail.com or on my Instagram @aadi.agrawal1. We can definitely see how to take it from there.
Aaditya is currently working with some huge organisations within the Black Lives Matter movement, including Black Youth Project 100 (BYP100) and Campaign Zero. He’s open to contacts and potential collaborations, so do get in touch if you want to chat with him!
