There’s been a great deal of backlash against Flock cameras, with constant vandalism and numerous reports of crooked cops misusing them, leading to more and more communities to cancel their contracts. While Flock has received the most backlash, there are other ALPR companies out there. Rather than ending their use of technology that spies on you, and in a move that doesn’t really solve the problems associated with mass surveillance, some departments that have dropped Flock have simply switched to other companies that do the same thing, reports NPR.
One of those competitors is Axon. If that name sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve seen it displayed on body cam videos, since Axon is the leading supplier of body cams to law enforcement, according to The Intercept. After a bit of rebranding in 2017 (the same year Flock was founded), many people don’t know that Axon is the company formerly known as Taser, the electrical stun gun — another technology that police never, ever misuse.
While Flock had to develop not only its technology, but also its law enforcement contacts and clients, Axon already had the clients in its Rolodex thanks to its other products. Law enforcement agencies may be fleeing from Flock contracts like rats from a sinking ship, but they still want ALPR technology. In places like Denver, Colorado, for example, switching ALPR providers is easy when you’re getting your new camera tracking access through a supplier you likely already do business with.
If it looks like a flock, acts like a flock… then it’s a flock camera. Different names doesn’t mean anything. They should all go away.
San Diego approves smart streetlight cameras
San Diego police will soon be able to rely on surveillance cameras and license plate readers attached to 500 streetlights citywide, after the City Council approved their use Tuesday.
Also, we have this style, mounted high up on poles at the major intersections in my town, well out of reach of vandalism.
Yes, I know these are likely not used for the tracking people, or at least weren’t originally installed for that. But, what’s to keep them from upgrading or replacing them with ones that look the same to serve the same function as Flock cameras? No one would even notice. Sensor resolution, and optics for small cameras keeps improving.
Surely the pole it’s mounted on connects to something…?
Well, yes. Usually mounted on extensions to a traffic light pole. You’re not cutting it down with a hacksaw, at least.
Imagine this on top of a traffic light:
To be fair, there’s a lot of those that are just traffic light cameras. They look for a car to pull up before they let the lights change. Cut them down and the traffic lights stop working.
Are these like street lights where they are mounted to break-away bases? because then you just need a big wrench, no saws needed.
Inevitable. The next generation will be imperceptible and thus impossible to vandalize.
Vandalism was never a permanent solution. Accountability for local elected officials who think their constituents are idiots is the solution.
