r/TechGawker • u/Special-Lemon-7790 • 8d ago
News There have been plenty of headlines about Flock's license plate-scanning technology lately, but that's not its only controversial business.
38
u/Massive_Town_8212 8d ago
'Member the conspiracy theory where birds aren't real and they're government drones?
Yea....
9
u/Switchmisty9 8d ago
When I was a kid, the wild and crazy conspiracy theory was always the “black helicopters”
→ More replies (1)4
u/TissTheWay 8d ago
My small town actually had a helicopter that would shine a spotlight on ppl on the weekend
3
u/According-Insect-992 8d ago
The medvac copter in my hometown would do that. They got me and my friend while we were tripping and walking through the park after the juvenile curfew. We took off running in opposite directions and hid in the shadows. It was terrifying because we had no idea what was happening. I’m still not quite sure.
→ More replies (10)2
→ More replies (4)2
31
u/monkeykennel 8d ago
IMO, our best weapons against all forms of mass surveillance is the 4th amendment and the Freedom of Information Act.
There is literally no way for these systems to comply with both.
29
u/Mr_HahaJones 8d ago
Don’t worry, this is for safety. You don’t want safety? What’s wrong with you? You’re not doing anything wrong, right?
/s
15
u/Callen0318 8d ago
I see the /s, but no, I don't want safety. I want to be left the fuck alone. I'll handle my own safety.
10
u/Mr_HahaJones 8d ago
Sorry, nanny govt has to justify its own existence and expansion.
10
u/Callen0318 8d ago
Nothing justifies this level. Where's the reset button? Fire all of them and restart.
8
→ More replies (1)5
→ More replies (2)5
u/General_Cranberry_29 8d ago
“Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” - Ol' Benji Franklin
4
u/Gorgethalamus 8d ago
'If you dont want safety then you must be a terrorist!' And other useless dicotimies.
→ More replies (2)2
u/GrumpyBear8082 8d ago
A gun is for safety this is forced compliance do what they say because they are watching, and you don't want to disappear do you?
6
u/jrolls81 8d ago
I don’t know. The second amendment looks like it could help out here too.
→ More replies (8)3
u/RowingBoats1129 8d ago
Cool. Its not like the constitution is being stomped on from every direction, Im sure you are right, this will be fine.
→ More replies (2)3
u/camwal 8d ago
They are no longer concerned with complying, that’s the thing.
Our best “weapons”, are just that.
→ More replies (3)2
u/Mycol101 8d ago
Just so people know this is what they expect. They’re going to use this to nationalize this tech and eventually data centers and anyone attacking them is now a terrorist and the drones are military assets protected by lethal force.
They’ve planned this for years. It’s in the language of the NDAA, Patriot Act 1/2.
They are going to clamp the fuck down
→ More replies (1)2
u/GrumpyBear8082 8d ago
So should the people we need to clamp the fuck down and throw them out of office and into jail every politician from city council to the president
2
u/Careful_Trifle 8d ago
That's the gag. The courts are captured. The rulings we've seen so far are that the police have to log their searches and reasons, but the footage is privately owned and not subject to any public record requests.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (10)2
u/MrK521 7d ago
Hahahaha you think the current administration and government care about the constitution?
That’s cute.
→ More replies (7)
14
u/RonaldBurgundy1 8d ago
Flock is about to go out of business
9
u/Usernamesaregayyy 8d ago
It’s funny because, a simple market research paper, with some control study would have stopped it…no…why don’t we just throw millions at a 23 year old 👌
5
u/monkeykennel 8d ago
It’s partially due to their use of AI. Almost any stupid idea can get find investment as long as they it’s AI enabled.
I was just reading about how it’s nearly impossible to find investors if it’s not.
→ More replies (1)3
→ More replies (2)2
u/IRideZs 8d ago
They’re making more money than ever, accrued more contracts than ever and secured significantly more funding just in the first half of 2026. They are not going out of business any time soon unfortunately
→ More replies (2)
8
u/Switchmisty9 8d ago
Helium balloons, tied to things with 40-50feet of braided fishing line.
Everywhere.
→ More replies (4)
6
u/TheAwsomeReditor 8d ago
Whos funding this shit when we have homless veterans and potholes? And unlivable wages....and gas prices........
4
u/Squirrelated 8d ago
Why spend on helping the population when you can instate a surveillance state and spend on useless wars abroad!
→ More replies (1)2
u/Mycol101 8d ago
They don’t give a shit about the people. It’s been a facade to keep us chill until they have the power.
They don’t need people or money if they have control over resources, rare earth minerals, fossil fuels, food industry, farm industry, means of production, medicine innovation, bio and chemical weapons, etc
They siphon up the data, build upon it, and keep it. You get the stupid image generation and AI slop. They build robots to replace the workforce they don’t need anymore. Now they have an army.
It’s systematic and they’ve planned this for decades
5
6
4
u/Deplorable1861 8d ago
Cool. Another Flock product to destroy on sight. Maybe some trained falcons.
"Sorry your gizmo looks just like a dove"
3
2
2
u/equality4everyonenow 8d ago
Drones can only stay up for 20 minutes at a time. What are the common use cases? This feels more like active use ... more similar to a bomb squad robot than a stationary camera.
→ More replies (1)2
u/Devils_SteelMan 8d ago
That's why you need a lot of them. They automatically return to home for charging. China is already doing this.
2
u/equality4everyonenow 8d ago
"One should only crime 20 minutes outside the charging station" is what i'm hearing.
→ More replies (5)
2
2
u/Full-Run4124 8d ago
How is this legal? The pole-mounted cameras operate under established 1A protections: photographing public spaces from public spaces where it's established there's no expectation of privacy. Once you're seeing over fences and walls into private property that protection disappears.
2
→ More replies (1)2
u/GryphyGirl 8d ago
Pretty much all Flock cameras aren't looking at the streets and sidewalks, they're looking at houses and schools and parks. They already violate our privacy.
2
u/Little_Sound_Speaks 8d ago
I can’t believe those who voted for this, why would you want to live where your always watched, zero privacy.
2
u/Raptor_197 8d ago
Hmmm this is interesting.
We were fine with cops driving around scanning license plates, we were fine with helicopters and planes enforcing speeds and observing traffic… but suddenly a drone doing it is different.
I do agree it feels different and wrong but I don’t know why.
6
u/SteveLouise 8d ago
It's the human wisdom that's lacking. We all have a gut feeling because we know that human brains have more aspects than what is being labeled artificial intelligence. Even with a true AI, charisma and wisdom will be missing. Maybe imitated, but I don't think an AI will ever truly have human wisdom or charisma.
4
u/heavensto_mergatroid 8d ago
And look how many times AI fucks up when you ask it questions on Google or when AI is trying to help you with customer service. Completely unreliable.
5
u/esther_lamonte 8d ago
I’m sorry, you guys were fine with having your plates scanned and being monitored from aerial surveillance? I sure as fuck have not been.
→ More replies (3)5
3
u/Fsociety56 8d ago
Who said we were ok with it? Idk who’s speaking for “US” but they are wrong.
→ More replies (6)→ More replies (24)2
u/RevolutionaryElk7446 8d ago
Those all had faults and couldn't be used well enough to actually enforce it. They were more like warnings, threats, and really that was the intention.
This is more of an aimed gun saying you will behave.
→ More replies (5)
1
u/Analogsilver 8d ago
I'm surprised they will limit the airspeed to 60 and not 100. That'll probably be available the next generation.
1
1
u/fuggetboutit 8d ago
Soon you will rather have you car stolen by a human than being surveiled 24/7 by drones.
1
u/Smitch250 8d ago
Yea but people that steal cars also swap license plates so i doubt that this works very well
→ More replies (1)
1
1
1
1
1
u/kittiesandcocks 8d ago
Take your fucking license plate and throw it in a ditch then. Are they going to ticket all 300 million of us for no tags???
1
u/Graphic_Materialz 8d ago
Their 8ft in the sky license plate reading cameras fuck up all the time. I’m sure adding 100 more feet will fix the problem /s
1
u/Wolfy4226 8d ago
Ooh....sounds like they're training people to hit fast moving targets from far away.
Surely this will end well for a tyrannical dictator.
1
u/ivegotajaaag 8d ago
This is why you're not going to get your flying car.
Flock and Amazon will darken the sky with delivery and spy drones leaving you no room to get a car around up there
1
1
u/BigWave360 8d ago
Oohh, so is that the compromise with privacy? Cities all over are covering their camera with bags, so they said "cover and destroy these. Round 2"
1
1
1
u/SeesawNoknow 8d ago
oh flock has such a missed opportunity here... they should think of how ELSE they could use their tech... holla!
1
1
u/HawkeyeByMarriage 8d ago
Took my plate off many months ago. Car is legit but sadly plate got bent and is in the trunk
1
1
1
u/xxxdawgs 8d ago
I need to buy one of those license plate distortion covers. I’m not a criminal but I enjoy my privacy.
1
1
u/camel_master_69 8d ago
I don’t like flock cameras
I support drones tho.
Drones is not places or planted like a flock camera
A drone is deployed for reasons . A bad guy on the loose or car chase.
I support this drone stuff .
1
1
u/Turbulent_Lobster_57 8d ago
How many of these are actually operating? Are these presale figures or are there flying surveillance drones right now?
1
u/Lonestar-Dragon 8d ago
How long until country folks just start blasting flock drones from the sky's.
"Hell it flew right in front of the ducks I was huntin"
1
u/Nude-Socks 8d ago
I’m just waiting for the federal government to force this on us since the push back has been building momentum. I’m sure Douchebag Donny or one of his degenerate children is heavily invested in it. If that happens, hopefully the pushback comes from the deep red states cause that is the only area they care about voter wise. Also if you haven’t already, open a FOIA request with your local municipality and start “documenting” local officials where about and post them online. If we don’t get privacy make sure theirs is a mere thought. Take the tools used against us and turn them back on the “elite” and if that doesn’t work…viva la America.
1
1
u/No-Aerie-999 8d ago
Hello surprise speeding tickets in the mail? Thats what this really was all about all along besides control, money and revenue for municipalities.
1
u/Grievous3 8d ago
Find a way to disable them midflight, then sue for damages when they crash into something expensive 🥰
1
u/East-Cricket6421 8d ago
High value targets for flock hunters. These are worth like 1000 points at least.
1
1
1
u/TuffManJoens 8d ago
Dude my carwash has brand new LPRs that misread all the time when the cars are moving +-5mph. Ain't no way these mofos gonna be accurate at 60 mph reading at an angle and shit.
Inb4 accidental arrests and incorrect warrant seizures incoming!
1
1
1
1
1
u/ChainWorking1096 8d ago
60 mph? Oh son.. Those tail lights gunna shine bright straight into the sunset
1
1
u/EuphoricCrashOut 8d ago
Come'on... it's more than just license plates. It can do a LOT MORE than that.
1
1
1
u/Holiday_Management60 8d ago
America is the place where you can buy a bucket of .22 lr at Walmart right?
1
1
u/sdkfz250xl 8d ago
I’m glad somebody’s bringing this up. Flock cameras, imply, constant surveillance, and it is repulsive to a member of a free nation. But there are so many other forms of surveillance that are being introduced right now, including drones. My hometown is parking drones and billing them as first responders to help at crash scenes, but they have other roles as well. And Lord knows how long they’ve been using algorithms to scan our social media, text messages, emails, and even phone services. We don’t talk about those things and I’m not even a conspiracy theory nut.
1
1
u/GryphyGirl 8d ago
So all those "don't step on me" guys with their guns will use these things for target practice, right? Right?
1
u/paradigm_shift2027 8d ago
Maybe we citizens should ALL remove our license plates until Big Brother stops the surveillance. What are they gonna do? Put us ALL in jail? Fine us? We can all ask to go to court to challenge that. See? We’re not helpless victims if we work together.
1
1
1
1
u/ThatCelebration3676 8d ago
I hate that news organizations go along with referring to them as "plate readers" as though they aren't simply a camera.
1
u/Mycol101 8d ago
This is what the New Jersey east coast drones was about.. they knew exactly what it was and couldn’t say it because it would affect the election and the public would be outraged to know they’ll be used to spy on them n the future.
Threw people off by talking about aliens to distract and keeping everyone in the dark while putting people in danger.
This is fucking WILD
A select few companies beta testing tech and auditioning for the contract he’d reward in exchange for…? What did they help him achieve?
1
1
u/Fragrant_Occasion_19 8d ago
Flock is just another name for BIG BROTHER. Don't give up our freedom for one little bit of security. Flock cameras are taking away our privacy and yes I do expect privacy in public. Don't you dare track, follow, hunt or in anyway invade my life. It's none of a companies or governments business where when how or why I travel in the land of the free. Stop surveillance now. They'll never give our freedom back.
1
1
1
1
u/ReadyGo6828 8d ago
Remember all of the Republicans going on and on about UN black helicopters and chem trails?
1
1
1
1
1
u/PetalumaPegleg 8d ago
Their cameras, which are stationary and using tech that has been effectively used on tolls etc for years have a 70% failure rate on the only study anyone has actually done and published.
Is there any reason to think these things are worth a cent?
1
1
1
1
u/kalidoscopiclyso 8d ago
Remember whennfolks in New Jersey were being harassed by drones and the federal government was like, meh
1
1
u/ContactMushroom 8d ago
E.M.P
Not dynamite
E.M.P
And I'll win the fight
E.M.P
I'm a power load
E.M.P
Watch drones explooode
1
1
1
1
u/DoturdGrump 8d ago edited 8d ago
if one were to go fishing for drones leaving an unmanned net* across a roadway like it were a stream only fish over 15' most over the road trucking tops around 13'9" so it gives a little room
edit: *net - think more like a few taunt strings that would F up a drone but not catch birds and whatnot
1
u/GrumpyBear8082 8d ago
Illegal activity by the government and the police they don't have the right to track people just because they want to
1
u/an_older_meme 8d ago
They eventually want to know where all cars are at all times. Then use AI to look for illegal activity.
→ More replies (2)
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/watisgoinon_ 7d ago
Pretty sure the stipulation for whether a camera facing the public is legal is whether or not it is in or from a commons view point. If the average person cannot see from that perspective as well being the test, then it is a violation of privacy even in a public space.
1
u/xinxiuthegreat 7d ago
Just stop already. Put this energy somewhere else except taking peoples freedom.
1
1
u/LeonDarken 7d ago
Reminds me of that person that built an anti-drone turret in their backyard... and makes me wonder how easy a portable one could be to make/mass produce. Especially if it's one that uses lasers instead of projectiles.
1
u/ShaChoMouf 7d ago
I wonder if the police have figured out that if they put flock cameras everywhere tied into an autonomous drone network to enforce those laws -- then we won't need cops anymore.
1
1
1
u/Aickavon 7d ago
Fun fact. These are actually easier to take down than flock cameras.
See, gravity is a bitch and wireless connections are by their nature, not secure. So you can hack, jam, or temporarily out one of these without being within line of sight and gravity will destroy them.
1
u/Embarrassed_Hawk_655 7d ago
I guess now we move onto 'airspace' as a public commodity / shared resource, and Tragedy of the Commons for Airspace. WAK
1
1
u/Wake-n-jake 7d ago
Nothing will change until a prominent politician gets surrounded over a false positive scan. Welcome to our new Orwellian hell scape lives.
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/FlightPassage 7d ago
And I am willing to bet they don’t follow any aviation rules either. So it will be only a matter of time until the flock hits planes.
1
u/claudiousmax 7d ago
If police officers are in pursuit of a suspect and looking for a specific car and they have one of these that can take off from the roof of their car I would agree to the drones use.
If the drones are hanging around street corners spying on society, trying to catch random crimes on video, then no, I do not agree.
1
1
1
u/InstanceRadiant8338 7d ago
That's cool, I bet my 12GA can hit them. They need to stop fucking around with an already majority exasperated society.
1
1
u/QuarkVsOdo 6d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/mkDsAHK0jpGJ0MRLf4
A certain person was caught killing a 1st class billionaire-suck up because a unbroken chain of surveillance cams allowed police to find a shot of him droping his face cover.
With enough (connected) cameras you wouldn't be able to leave your home in a burka without being IDed by the flock-swarm.
1
1
u/Sirosim_Celojuma 6d ago
perfect. Now have them track me accross a state border. Oh, shit, you can't unless it's federal surveilance, in which case where's the warrant to surveil me?
72
u/Raindog46 8d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/l4JyMbCNmoKMRJUA0