Seems like over the past 3 months Flock cameras have been popping up all over town. Nobody I talk to knows (or cares) anything about them, and they seem like another blanket surveillance thing. Sort of like the photo-radar and speed cameras from a decade ago. Legislation was passed at the state level banning those - and now these new cameras are appearing all over the place.
Are you guys experiencing these things in your locale?
Yes lots of new cameras here.
It seems like flock cameras and the data centers go together.
What's a flock camera?
Flock cameras are an license plate reader that have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning capabilities. They record your vehicle make, model, color, and any identifying marks (dents, roof racks, bumper and rear window stickers) as well as your plate. Then they grab any bluetooth or Wi-Fi device (smart phone, smart watch, TPS sensors) to make a personal fingerprint of you and your vehicle. Tracks where you go and puts all that data on servers that police (and just about anybody else) can use.
Here's a site that lets you track your city and see where the cameras are.
https://deflock.org/
Quote from: bonneyman on Jul 22, 2026, 05:45 PMFlock cameras are an license plate reader that have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning capabilities. They record your vehicle make, model, color, and any identifying marks (dents, roof racks, bumper and rear window stickers) as well as your plate. Then they grab any bluetooth or Wi-Fi device (smart phone, smart watch, TPS sensors) to make a personal fingerprint of you and your vehicle. Tracks where you go and puts all that data on servers that police (and just about anybody else) can use.
Here's a site that lets you track your city and see where the cameras are.
https://deflock.org/
Well that's pretty frightening!
That's the kind of technology that's great for law enforcement but you just know it's going to be used for other things as well. :o
Quote from: bonneyman on Jul 22, 2026, 07:10 AMSeems like over the past 3 months Flock cameras have been popping up all over town. Nobody I talk to knows (or cares) anything about them, and they seem like another blanket surveillance thing. Sort of like the photo-radar and speed cameras from a decade ago. Legislation was passed at the state level banning those - and now these new cameras are appearing all over the place.
Are you guys experiencing these things in your locale?
I say, Bring them on!
So what's the big deal about Flock cameras? The benefits far outweigh any downsides that can be conjured up. Unless you plan on robbing a bank, shop lifting, steal a car, kidnap a child, or possibly cheat on your partner.
It's lame when it's claimed to be incorrect 30% of the time. What about the 70% it's spot on? And over time accuracy will improve. Overall the same folks that want to eliminate Flock,, Want to eliminate police. Imagine that?
I actually haven't been paying attention but the Lowe's near us is supposed to have a bunch.
Quote from: Muddy on Jul 26, 2026, 05:45 PMI actually haven't been paying attention but the Lowe's near us is supposed to have a bunch.
And home depot.
I am opposed to these. We all saw how crazy some local governments went during covid.....What's to say the next time there is a fake lockdown they wouldn't use these cameras to throw your ass in jail for driving somewhere because the city council "says so". We are already tracked enough via cell phones.
Quote from: OldCarGuy on Jul 23, 2026, 09:50 AMQuote from: bonneyman on Jul 22, 2026, 07:10 AMSeems like over the past 3 months Flock cameras have been popping up all over town. Nobody I talk to knows (or cares) anything about them, and they seem like another blanket surveillance thing. Sort of like the photo-radar and speed cameras from a decade ago. Legislation was passed at the state level banning those - and now these new cameras are appearing all over the place.
Are you guys experiencing these things in your locale?
I say, Bring them on!
So what's the big deal about Flock cameras? The benefits far outweigh any downsides that can be conjured up. Unless you plan on robbing a bank, shop lifting, steal a car, kidnap a child, or possibly cheat on your partner.
It's lame when it's claimed to be incorrect 30% of the time. What about the 70% it's spot on? And over time accuracy will improve. Overall the same folks that want to eliminate Flock,, Want to eliminate police. Imagine that?
If a company like Home Depot or Lowes wants to install cameras in their parking lots, that's fine. It's on them. They pay for the cameras, it's their property, and if you choose to shop there, you consent to being filmed. Fine.
But Flock cameras are paid for with tax payer dollars, operating on public streets, and the footage gets sent wirelessly to some server that are fed to police with "alerts". One of the cameras picks up a plate number, and it gets flagged with a crime, cops can then track it. But blanket surveillance paid for with my taxes to watch everybody 24/7 on public roads we paid for by some for-profit company is wrong. I don't have any choice in the matter - I can't avoid travelling on public roads.
The amount of theft the Lowe's here has I can understand them wanting more cameras.