written by Kyran Waggoner / staff writer, Nolan Myrick / staff writer
Flock Safety promises privacy, safety, and law enforcement aid., Originally a license plate scanner, “flock cameras” eventually became AI powered spy cameras across America.
Although Flock Safety itself was founded in 2017, the cameras started to appear around 2023, people realized recently what they actually do and caused a public outcry.
Flock cameras are large poles with a security camera and solar panels.Newly installed flock cameras have been found pointing at splash pads and children’s parks. The public have been able to locate the cameras due to a new app, DeFlock.
Cameras have been proven to be misused, cops have been found tracking ex-girlfriends. The cameras not only track the license plate but stickers, color, and different possible modifications on people’s cars.They also can identify your face and its specific features.
Flock cameras have been shown to be incorrect, people have been falsely arrested as well.
Flock cameras are invading everyone’s privacy and treating everyone like time bombs waiting to commit a crime.
The people are taking action to stop these flock cameras. Deflocking is a country- wide movement to get rid of the cameras by both illegal and legal ways. Some people go to hearings and speak about why they should be illegal, others take it into their own hands and destroy the cameras at night.
Within DeFlock, an online community has labeled Halloween as a national deflocking day. The costumes will make people hard to identify with the cameras.
States themselves have taken action and banned cameras, however that’s not the end of the surveillance cameras.
New cameras named Axon,most known for body cameras, have new security- like cameras found on light poles. These cameras were set up with no warning, and most people don’t know about these specific cameras that are doing the exact same thing as flock.
Over the last few months people across the US took saws to cut down flock cameras. There are about 120,000 flock cameras across the US. They use flock cameras to look at license plates and any small details of the car they are looking for. There are four different flock devices: gun shot detector, license plate reader, flock cameras ,and mobile video cameras.
China has a very similar system, watching everyone, criminal or always under surveillance from the government. Tracking every move, even daily routine. If Flock or Axon cameras keep being implemented will the U.S. become a surveillance state?
