I'm not cheering. I haven't seen a single person injure or destroy one of these totally awfully made devices that seem to fall over all on their own. It's a shame how they are just so crappily made.
However...
Not my original post, just copy / paste
Definitely do not visit deflock.org that has an open-sources map, the location of flock cameras and their field of view near you.
The cameras and solar panels are almost impossible to uninstall/tamper with due to the single 8mm socket they're clamped on with.
Do not spray the lens with spray paint, bedliner, or something similar on the cameras lens, especially not with a spray can extension pole.
Do not print vinyl stickers that look like the solar panels to cover the actual solar panels that charge the cameras.
Do not put a black plastic bag over the camera and/or solar panel either, because all that does is cost the company time and money.
Also, never point a high-powered laser at the cameras lens because that would permanently blind, pit, or burn the cameras sensors.
These cameras have ~12 hour backup battery, that transmit Bluetooth and 5G used to locate the cameras exact location, the same way your phone does. So under no circumstance put them inside a Faraday bag, that would block the signal while the battery runs itself out.
It would be pointless to inform your community by posting information online or by putting up flyers or signs next to these cameras. Especially not pointing out that there is a (Flock "Safety" Camera) that is capturing and analyzing images of all passing vehicles, storing details like the vehicles location, date, and time. They also capture the vehicles make, model, color, as well as identifying features such as dents, scratches roof racks, and decal/bumper stickers.
Flock cameras are only automated license plate readers (ALPR's). They would never misuse any of the data collected for local officers conducting unauthorized searches for federal immigration enforcement (ICE), searching for individuals who sought out-of-state reproductive healthcare, or police targeting specific activist and minority groups.
How would they be a serious risk to your privacy and civil liberties by continuously recording your movements without a warrant, probable cause, or even reasonable suspicion..
Especially not an infrastructure for mass surveilance or a gateway to violate your Fourth Amendment right.
There's absolutely no reason to plan routes that avoid Flock and other ALPR cameras by visiting dontgetflocked.com or the app FlockHopper.
Americans have declared war on Flock cameras. They’ve protested them, damaged them, and destroyed them. This is only the beginning.
The spontaneous and decentralized nature of the vigilante protests is also what makes them difficult to suppress. There isn’t a uniform method of disruption; people have done everything from unplugging, smashing, stealing, and spray-painting the surveillance devices to taking less destructive actions like physically blocking the cameras for hours. Some of the culprits have been caught, but that clearly hasn’t dissuaded others from taking matters into their own hands.
The fact that so many people seem to not only oppose the cameras but openly support those stealing and destroying them is a historically significant milestone for the anti-Big Tech movement. Activist historians often refer to this approach as a “diversity of tactics” — the idea that movements become stronger when they tolerate those taking extralegal direct action and reject narratives that divide them into “good” and “bad” protesters. As author Margaret Killjoy recently argued in a piece about Flock vandalism: “Social movements are effective specifically when there is solidarity between their broader base and the people who are committing criminal direct action. When social movements stand behind their criminals, they win.”
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I have american friends who didnt vote because "both sides are the same"
I know this isnt a sub for politics and Canadians can be as apathetic as Americans.
Its frustrating seeing millions march against current admins. here in Canada as well (Ontario) but who couldnt be bothered to vote.
I know what you mean. It's extremely frustrating and the people in power who want to continue their looting know how to encourage it both structurally and socially.
That makes no sense to me. Given that only roughly a third of Americans voted for Trump in 2024 and even assuming they would all take the same path again, why equate people cheering for the vigilantes with MAGA?
I also think this represents a growing sentiment among people from across the political spectrum that we are fed up with big tech and their total disregard for the citizens of this country. The list of their abuses of the public is seemingly endless.
Huh, imagine that: generations that made us read dystopian novels as required reading in English classes are surprised when we got the message, even if it wasn’t the one they intended to send.
Unfortunately... the plan moving forward seems to be about putting these AI-connected cameras onto roaming drones in the sky. Those will probably be more difficult for angry members of the public to get their hands upon. It really is beyond Orwellian.
I don't actually mind them. We have a crisis where security footage can be easily doctored by AI. A company that is too large to be influenced by small time crime to make ai altered videos for them is nice. Sure, they will be used for corrupt things too at larger scales, but what's new?
With that said, I do find it funny people are destroying the things.
errie_tholluxe | 12 hours ago
I'm not cheering. I haven't seen a single person injure or destroy one of these totally awfully made devices that seem to fall over all on their own. It's a shame how they are just so crappily made.
However...
Not my original post, just copy / paste
Definitely do not visit deflock.org that has an open-sources map, the location of flock cameras and their field of view near you.
The cameras and solar panels are almost impossible to uninstall/tamper with due to the single 8mm socket they're clamped on with.
Do not spray the lens with spray paint, bedliner, or something similar on the cameras lens, especially not with a spray can extension pole.
Do not print vinyl stickers that look like the solar panels to cover the actual solar panels that charge the cameras.
Do not put a black plastic bag over the camera and/or solar panel either, because all that does is cost the company time and money.
Also, never point a high-powered laser at the cameras lens because that would permanently blind, pit, or burn the cameras sensors.
These cameras have ~12 hour backup battery, that transmit Bluetooth and 5G used to locate the cameras exact location, the same way your phone does. So under no circumstance put them inside a Faraday bag, that would block the signal while the battery runs itself out.
It would be pointless to inform your community by posting information online or by putting up flyers or signs next to these cameras. Especially not pointing out that there is a (Flock "Safety" Camera) that is capturing and analyzing images of all passing vehicles, storing details like the vehicles location, date, and time. They also capture the vehicles make, model, color, as well as identifying features such as dents, scratches roof racks, and decal/bumper stickers.
Flock cameras are only automated license plate readers (ALPR's). They would never misuse any of the data collected for local officers conducting unauthorized searches for federal immigration enforcement (ICE), searching for individuals who sought out-of-state reproductive healthcare, or police targeting specific activist and minority groups.
How would they be a serious risk to your privacy and civil liberties by continuously recording your movements without a warrant, probable cause, or even reasonable suspicion..
Especially not an infrastructure for mass surveilance or a gateway to violate your Fourth Amendment right.
There's absolutely no reason to plan routes that avoid Flock and other ALPR cameras by visiting dontgetflocked.com or the app FlockHopper.
Just leave flock cameras alone...
CarpeNivem | 12 hours ago
Cheering for vigilantes who destroy Flock cameras is the most respectful thing Americans have done in a while.
looselyhuman | 12 hours ago
> When social movements stand behind their criminals, they win.
Like Luigi?
I think the scale of Flock's unpopularity is why this one will win.
Gullex | 11 hours ago
If billionare CEO's were dropping at the rate of Flock cameras, you can bet there would be some quick changes made.
[OP] theverge | 12 hours ago
Americans have declared war on Flock cameras. They’ve protested them, damaged them, and destroyed them. This is only the beginning.
The spontaneous and decentralized nature of the vigilante protests is also what makes them difficult to suppress. There isn’t a uniform method of disruption; people have done everything from unplugging, smashing, stealing, and spray-painting the surveillance devices to taking less destructive actions like physically blocking the cameras for hours. Some of the culprits have been caught, but that clearly hasn’t dissuaded others from taking matters into their own hands.
The fact that so many people seem to not only oppose the cameras but openly support those stealing and destroying them is a historically significant milestone for the anti-Big Tech movement. Activist historians often refer to this approach as a “diversity of tactics” — the idea that movements become stronger when they tolerate those taking extralegal direct action and reject narratives that divide them into “good” and “bad” protesters. As author Margaret Killjoy recently argued in a piece about Flock vandalism: “Social movements are effective specifically when there is solidarity between their broader base and the people who are committing criminal direct action. When social movements stand behind their criminals, they win.”
Gift link: https://www.theverge.com/tech/985155/flock-camera-destruction-vigilantes?view_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpZCI6InY4aWlUd2FBSnQiLCJwIjoiL3RlY2gvOTg1MTU1L2Zsb2NrLWNhbWVyYS1kZXN0cnVjdGlvbi12aWdpbGFudGVzIiwiZXhwIjoxNzg4Mjc4MDI4LCJpYXQiOjE3ODc4NDYwMjh9.kA_aM7PkPQO2xWHDnX9BrCYQOkRGz53gGOry7Ukn4Ro&utm_medium=gift-link
clean-links | 12 hours ago
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Tracking parameters were removed from the original URL(s).
srilankan | 12 hours ago
It's odd they keep electing the people who are putting up the cameras but they are "cheering for the vigilantes"
liquorandacid | 12 hours ago
It's almost like millions of diverse people live here, including millions who voted against Trump. So odd!
srilankan | 11 hours ago
I have american friends who didnt vote because "both sides are the same" I know this isnt a sub for politics and Canadians can be as apathetic as Americans. Its frustrating seeing millions march against current admins. here in Canada as well (Ontario) but who couldnt be bothered to vote.
liquorandacid | 11 hours ago
I know what you mean. It's extremely frustrating and the people in power who want to continue their looting know how to encourage it both structurally and socially.
horseradishstalker | 9 hours ago
That makes no sense to me. Given that only roughly a third of Americans voted for Trump in 2024 and even assuming they would all take the same path again, why equate people cheering for the vigilantes with MAGA?
MrVeazey | 7 hours ago
Because a small minority, percentage-wise, can still be millions of people spread across a very large area.
grobb916 | 12 hours ago
I also think this represents a growing sentiment among people from across the political spectrum that we are fed up with big tech and their total disregard for the citizens of this country. The list of their abuses of the public is seemingly endless.
GORGtheDestroyer | 9 hours ago
Huh, imagine that: generations that made us read dystopian novels as required reading in English classes are surprised when we got the message, even if it wasn’t the one they intended to send.
NihiloZero | 11 hours ago
Unfortunately... the plan moving forward seems to be about putting these AI-connected cameras onto roaming drones in the sky. Those will probably be more difficult for angry members of the public to get their hands upon. It really is beyond Orwellian.
clean-links | 12 hours ago
Cleaned link: https://www.theverge.com/tech/985155/flock-camera-destruction-vigilantes?view_token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpZCI6InY4aWlUd2FBSnQiLCJwIjoiL3RlY2gvOTg1MTU1L2Zsb2NrLWNhbWVyYS1kZXN0cnVjdGlvbi12aWdpbGFudGVzIiwiZXhwIjoxNzg4Mjc4MDI4LCJpYXQiOjE3ODc4NDYwMjh9.kA_aM7PkPQO2xWHDnX9BrCYQOkRGz53gGOry7Ukn4Ro
Tracking parameters were removed from the original URL(s).
Next_Classic_9664 | 9 hours ago
All I see in my head is batman ripping into flock camera and I'm not mad at it
Chillow_Ufgreat | 8 hours ago
Flock cameras being cut down? That's just an urban legend. They fall over on their own because the build quality is shit.
RexDraco | 9 hours ago
I don't actually mind them. We have a crisis where security footage can be easily doctored by AI. A company that is too large to be influenced by small time crime to make ai altered videos for them is nice. Sure, they will be used for corrupt things too at larger scales, but what's new?
With that said, I do find it funny people are destroying the things.