What is your opinion on Flock cameras, Axon cameras, ALPRs, etc?
Do you mean what do I think about Big Brother?
Pretty much yeah haha
It might be okay if everyone is free of corruption and the system is actually secure.......oh...... It's not looking great I guess.
Just another way to watch us.
In January 2026, in the case of Schmidt v. City of Norfolk, a federal judge ruled in favor of the City of Norfolk. Schmidt had sued claiming Norfolk’s use of 176 Flock cameras constituted an “unreasonable search” and a violation of the 4th Amendment. I strongly agree with Schmidt and his attorneys from the Institute for Justice.
The City of Norfolk’s attorneys had presented a pretty standard “you have no expectation of privacy when you are in public” argument. They specifically claimed the limited duration of data retention (21 days in Virginia compared to 30 days in most other states) and the lack of specific location (they know what street you drovr down but not what building you entered) meant Flock cameras weren’t enough of a violation of a person’s privacy to be considered an “unreasonable search” under the 4th Amendment.
That decision is being appealed.
Just last week, in the 6-3 decision on the Chatrie case, SCOTUS again affirmed that citizens DO have some “expectation of privacy”, even in public. They held that location data is different than other types of data (i.e. bank records or credit card transactions) because tracking someone’s location over time reveals intimacies of life (where a person lives, works, worships, their hobbies, their friends, their medical procedures, their romantic interests, etc.).
If I were a gambler, I would bet Schmidt wins the appeal of the Norfolk case based on the Chatrie decision that was just handed down on June 29.
I doubt it will be a total ban of Flock cameras but it may be a requirement that a warrant must be obtained before the cameras are accessed and other restrictions on how the cameras are used.
In the meantime, you can follow the list of cities cancelling their Flock camera contracts at DeFlock.org. As of this morning, 81 cities across the country have cancelled their Flock contracts (or voted against ever putting them up). One of the most recent cities to cancel their Flock contract is Colorado Springs.
They can flock off. We're watched and heard plenty as it is.
I think about going and putting black garbage bags on them sometimes. I hate them
Im not sure what the machine is but I heard something about a flock of seagulls back in the 80s
Passionately anti-Flock. Its a waste of resources that could be used to make our communities better instead of being siphoned off to make another tech bro rich.
@JohnR1972 thank you for that summary. I always appreciate your well informed input.
@trysdet that would be a far superior and much preferred Flock.
@trysdet exactly what's being discussed here. We're tired of them watching us and some people are feeling threatened by them invading our privacy (and stealing our fries).
That’s not how the cams work , unless you’re a criminal what are you worried about? They alert LE when a stolen plate enters an area or a person associated with a vehicle from a previous crime. If a person is kidnapped and thrown in a particular vehicle flock cams will capture it when it passes. If you’ve ever had your car stolen you’ll be happy the cams alerted LE to where it was driven. You’re not that important thinking everyone is out to get you . Unless you’re a criminal
I'm sure Flock is every bit as accurate as immigration enforcement. And how could it possibly be misused,
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/12/effs-investigations-expose-flock-safetys-surveillance-abuses-2025-review
Section headings:
Here is a list of KNOWN abuses of ALPRs. Just like domestic abuse, these numbers are GROSSLY under reported. Ex-wives of cops are “not that important thinking everyone is out to get them” but they are frequently the victims of Flock stalking by their ex.
https://library.kansas.watch/?ref=404media.co
@Kense There's always one.
Some of us have a better scope of understanding how these systems are utilized, I work adjacent to the systems administrators that deploy/maintain the LPR Systems within my county, I know exactly how the data is handled, both in transport and when at rest. I know what the fallout would be if the data were to be hacked/leaked and it isn't pretty.
Look at the equifax data breach, or the ssa breach, or any other major healthcare conglomerate that has been breahed.
As much as I'd love to break into a ELI5 I'm on my phone and don't have the effort nor the time. You're a criminal when the powers that be shift and the definition changes, things you posted online 10 years ago can/will follow you, and in 10 more years have you on a list.
I love Big Brother.
S/.
@Kense- incorrect statement. There has a already been several cases where the cameras have miss read plates leading to an arrest, and criminal charges on innocent victims. Moreover, the victims having to prove their innocence, where our legal system is innocent until proven guilty.
Tesla films and record you, so does any newer car with cameras and GPS. By next year, every new car in America is legally required to film you while in your car. Ford and others have patents pending on new tech and have lobbied hard for these new regulations.
There's bigger issues than just Flock. Flock is the distraction from the bigger issues.
I'm disappointed that this is not a thread about birds
Where I am from, two guys tried to steal a flock camera. Little to say, they didn’t make it too far.
You’re not that important thinking everyone is out to get you . Unless you’re a criminal
Or unless you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and get wrongfully accused of a crime that you didn't commit based on your mere presence. Or unless you don't want government having the ability to monitor your every move ... while it makes for fun drama in shows like NCIS, it's not so fun to think that government entities can track your every movement.
The right to privacy is fundamental to the Fourth Amendment. If the "reasonable expectation of privacy" gets eroded by widespread use of such monitoring technology, then that Amendment will end up gutted and meaningless.
Just in case it's not clear, I don't like these cameras.
Meanwhile everybody drives Nazi sleigh Teslas and other car makes with computers, smart TV’s and Alexa that records everything and sends in the data for marketing and other means yet no complaints. Flock or no flock there are human errors with policing .
Yes there have been flock errors but nobody has had criminal charges filed because once the error is realized they are let go. All it takes is a verification of the Vin and if it matches the plate . Not sure why you’re making up stuff by saying innocent people have had charges filed over a misread. No DA is going to take file to go to court without investigating the arrest to make sure they can win and it’s accurate. They will see the plate the arrest was made for does not match the vin of the car stopped.
I will say that my car was stolen a couple yrs about and because of the cameras it was able to be retrieved the following morning. That being said , as a generals rule I don't believe being monitored or having the ability to monitor is a good thing. That coupled with all the AI jazz is enough to make my Gen X brain spin in a bad way.
No DA is going to take file to go to court without investigating the arrest to make sure they can win and it’s accurate.
Brave statement these days. And a big assumption that you survive to have a trial, and aren't "detained and deported".
Facts are brave , I work in Law Enforcement , no DA is going to ruin their reputation and potentially get fired by taking a bogus flock case to trial just to get destroyed by the defense when the facts are presented. Case would get thrown out by the judge before even going to trial. Local LE doesn’t deport or do immigration. ICE does not have access to flock cams. Most police agencies do not work with ICE or get involved with their operations.
no DA is going to ruin their reputation and potentially get fired by taking a bogus flock case
In nearly all states, DAs are elected, not hired.
Case would get thrown out by the judge before even going to trial
Depending on the judge.
Local LE doesn’t deport or do immigration
Unless they choose to do so. Here's an example: https://citylimits.org/local-police-agreements-with-ice-have-exploded-in-new-york-and-nationwide/
But even with all that, if the suspect appears to be a black or brown person, what's the chances of them surviving the arrest?
@Kense You might want to review "The Innocence Project of Texas" as an example of how often innocent people are convicted on faulty evidence.
https://innocencetexas.org/
I just recently found out about flock cameras. If I speed or anything and get a ticket, I don’t argue. I try to do better. Gets expensive sometimes. Yet I don’t like the big brother. Seeing a lot of instagram videos about sabotaging them. Cool ideas. Very interesting.
I had one thrown out because it was a double turning lane and they charged me with the ticket even though the other car ran the red light.
