22 comments

  • rglover an hour ago

    IMO, when they have to hide, that's the beginning of the end. Too many people are aware of the what/why now. And above all else, once the tables turn on elected officials and they realize they're under the same surveillance, I bet their tune will change (likely due to a public egg-on-face moment involving illegal or suspicious activity). If people keep the pressure on, this will be a "remember when" rather quickly.

    • Cider9986 16 minutes ago

      Government officials should be highly transparent. Privacy for the people, transparency for the government.

      • dylan604 2 minutes ago

        I'm waiting to find out that Flock systems do not log the data when the plates are recognized as gov't issued plates.

      • awesome_dude 6 minutes ago

        There's a balance that needs to be struck, politicians are humans too

        • black6 2 minutes ago

          Not once they put themselves into the public sphere. They become chattel, bought and sold by special interests.

    • FireBeyond 28 minutes ago

      Some of that is already happening, in DC of all places, where the DC Police Officer's Union is protesting against use of Flock by ... the DC Police (albeit Internal Affairs).

      Something about "this technology is invasive and violates the right to privacy of our members"...

  • derbOac an hour ago

    If Flock wants to be used by public services, it should be subject to maximum transparency. If you don't want your camera locations public, don't offer them to the public for their use.

  • bilekas 8 minutes ago

    I am starting a surveillance company in the US. I'll sell the data to anyone who wants. I'll put cameras up wherever I like, call it protection of the people, the police will enjoy it doing a lot of work for them and then I'll point cameras squarely at my competition, 24 hours a day, 365 a year, until they ask for regulations.

    If anyone would like to kickstart let me know.

  • NoboruWataya 8 minutes ago

    Interesting that the site is only available in the US. I wonder why that is.

  • AKSF_Ackermann 38 minutes ago

    I would like to point out that the website in question has a button to download the entire dataset. Probably would be a good idea to save a copy.

  • JKCalhoun 41 minutes ago

    I still want to see a driving game, perhaps using Google maps, where you try to get from point A to point B and not pass any Flock cameras.

    • pennomi 26 minutes ago

      I’m working on an OpenStreetMap-powered map generator in Godot, this would probably be quite easy to build.

    • nxobject 29 minutes ago

      That would make for a “fun” (if depressing) Glider environmental hazard.

  • heliomattress 16 minutes ago

    flock CEO's last name is "Langley" ? you can't make this stuff up.

  • ortusdux an hour ago

    Could the map's creator be held liable if Flock can demonstrate this map in particular was used to destroy cameras?

    • collabs 44 minutes ago

      In my uninformed opinion that would be a dangerous precedent if there is no proven collusion or conspiracy to act together. I anal though so I'll wait for people who know the law to respond.

    • moate 36 minutes ago

      Highly unlikely (but hey, anything's possible when you're flirting with an authoritarian regime). They would need to demonstrate that the map was made TO destroy cameras if to have real merit.

  • bookofjoe an hour ago
  • forshaper 26 minutes ago

    Axon and Motorola must be pretty satisfied with all this.

    • paimapi 17 minutes ago

      for what it's worth, the DeFlock maps also include Axon/Motorola cams. they pick up my city's custom implementation too so the anti-surveillance movement is really benefiting from this Flock-focused hate

  • adolph 27 minutes ago

    Clickbait. The website proprietor received a 3rd party trademark infringement complaint. If people in the company would prefer the map to be offline, they are taking a very roundabout way of accomplishing it.

      On Thursday, Michael was notified that Doppel, which describes itself as an “AI-native social engineering defense platfom,” filed a trademark infringement complaint regarding his site, claiming to be working on Flock’s behalf. Doppel says that the site is using the trademark “FLOCK SAFETY” without authorization, which “may cause customer confusion / harm.” Doppel requested the site be taken down.
    • plorg 9 minutes ago

      >they are taking a very roundabout way of accomplishing it

        Doppel requested the site be taken down.
      
      Actually that seems pretty direct.