How hard would it be to create a community network of crappy microphones to do what shotspotter does? You have a million phones that all have gps and microphones
I've always wanted to do this to record and report on the number of gunshots I hear every night - hundreds go unreported - and to get an accurate direction less prone to reflections. Also to start an ML library to recognize thunder vs. fireworks vs. dumpster lids vs. planks of lumber vs. misfires vs. gunshots and other percussive noises.
If I were you, I'd expend 100% of my efforts into figuring out how to move to a safer neighborhood.
Despite all the news reports, in many cities in the USA people can and do live their entire lives without hearing a single gunshot.
I'd just want an easy way to audit the outbound data so I could become confident that it was only recording cases of: "Holy crap that was an EXPLOSION" and not recording cases of: "Did you hear what that guy said in his back yard?"
It's not like anybody creating explosions has a reasonable right to privacy. Everybody heard it, it might as well be public record. This would just add timestamps.
But rather than argue that particular aspect, just have it be "off" when it's connected to wifi or moving faster than 30MPH.
I am vary pro privacy, but as long as it’s voluntary I don’t have an issue with this.
And of course it's difficult for the average user of an app to tell the difference, or even for a tech savvy user to tell without investing some time and effort.