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‘Uber for guns’ app Protector lets you hire armed body guards like you would anUber — but does anyone need this?
The app Protector allows users to hire armed bodyguards, likened to 'Uber for guns.' Launched in NYC and LA, it saw initial downloads quickly tapering off. With costs exceeding $1,000 for services and a target market of anxious business executives, the app raises questions about necessity and sustainability in a polarized climate toward firearms and personal security.
Key points
- Protector app lets users hire armed security details like a rideshare vehicle.
- Launched in February 2025, it gained approximately 97,000 downloads initially but has since dropped in the app charts.
- Each hire costs at least $1,000 for five hours plus a $129 annual membership, targeting a specific clientele concerned about safety.
- Marketing strategy leveraged social media influencers, generating controversy and buzz.
- Similar endeavors include BlackWolf, which also offers armed rideshare drivers, indicating a growing niche in private security apps.
Why it matters
- Protector reflects ongoing trends towards personal security in an environment of heightened public safety concerns post-COVID.
- The rise of apps like Protector and BlackWolf parallels broader trends in IT, such as increased concern over personal safety and reliance on technology for protection.
- Historical instances of public distrust in law enforcement have spurred the growth of privatized security solutions, raising ethical questions.
Protector's approach to personal security through armed guards taps into contemporary anxieties around safety but may struggle to find a viable and ethical market in an already polarized society regarding firearms.