The growing vigilante movement to knock out Flock surveillance cameras • Hacker News Board

Re: The growing vigilante movement to knock out Flock surveillance cameras

#21

Post by customguy » Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 9:04 PM UTC

samrus wrote: post #15

mannanj wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the governed unless the governed have no issues that that lead to speach/action What about if the speech is censored, shadow-banned, limited etc in some other ways? Where the governed does not know their speech was limited in reach, censored etc? (which btw is a real approach social media companies are taking today).

Theyll see no effect of their speech, and try something else. Like voting, protests, and violence. In thay order

... or infighting, or self-destruction, or doomscrolling... the pressure will go somewhere but not necessarily into channels that relieve it. That takes more effort and persistence, and also a society (our consumer societies hardly rate as such in my books).

Re: The growing vigilante movement to knock out Flock surveillance cameras

#22

Post by altcognito » Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 9:04 PM UTC

ungreased0675 wrote: post #2

When people feel like their voice isn’t heard, this is the inevitable result.

NO! Even if your voice is heard, the state doesn't need to track your every move.

Re: The growing vigilante movement to knock out Flock surveillance cameras

#23

Post by ElProlactin » Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 9:04 PM UTC

theendisney wrote: post #19

ungreased0675 wrote: post #2

When people feel like their voice isn’t heard, this is the inevitable result.

Violence and destruction are perfectly natural ways of communicating. Some animals use sounds and almost all use body language. One could even argue communicating over the phone or internet lacks the destructive component. Irl behavior is heavily modified by it. Verbal communication is a work in progress. We really want it to work. Sometimes you have to make people listen. Get them back in the program :)

> Violence and destruction are perfectly natural ways of communicating. Some animals use sounds and almost all use body language.

Except that animals don't have knives, guns, bombs and nuclear warheads.

> Sometimes you have to make people listen. Get them back in the program :)

Works great until you're the one being made to listen.

Re: The growing vigilante movement to knock out Flock surveillance cameras

#24

Post by ares623 » Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 9:10 PM UTC

mylifeandtimes wrote: post #17

superkuh wrote: post #4

Lets instead talk about the growing vigalante action by Flock corporation refusing to allow cities to remove cameras from their property after the contract is cancelled. Some cities have been forced to cover the cameras with trash bags. https://www.404media.co/flock-objects-to-our-removing-their-... https://www.wmtv15news.com/2026/06/05/dane-county-covers-flo...

If I were a city government, I would just start charging Flock rent.

They'll be gone the next day!

Re: The growing vigilante movement to knock out Flock surveillance cameras

#25

Post by toomuchtodo » Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 9:12 PM UTC

ButlerianJihad wrote: post #11

Congratulations, Flock, on establishing the most successful honeypot of all time! No matter what the level of corruption, no matter which side of the surveillance state you support, no matter which side of the cameras you're on, Flock has a way to shine a spotlight on you and bring you out of the closet! Currently following a YouTuber who knows all the roadside regulations for signposts and he points out how the Floc…

@theguardrailguy is great, love his work, highly recommend.

Re: The growing vigilante movement to knock out Flock surveillance cameras

#26

Post by Akronymus » Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 9:15 PM UTC

ButlerianJihad wrote: post #11

Congratulations, Flock, on establishing the most successful honeypot of all time! No matter what the level of corruption, no matter which side of the surveillance state you support, no matter which side of the cameras you're on, Flock has a way to shine a spotlight on you and bring you out of the closet! Currently following a YouTuber who knows all the roadside regulations for signposts and he points out how the Floc…

This one [0] by chance?

[0] https://youtube.com/@theguardrailguy

Re: The growing vigilante movement to knock out Flock surveillance cameras

#27

Post by beloch » Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 9:15 PM UTC

Flock was pitched as the triumph of technology over criminality. It's surveillance network was supposed to end crime. However, when people witness extreme criminality thriving unpunished at the top levels of U.S. politics, the lie becomes evident. Flock isn't about ending crime. It's a tool of control to be used by criminals.

Who watches the watchers? Everyone.

Re: The growing vigilante movement to knock out Flock surveillance cameras

#28

Post by Akronymus » Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 9:16 PM UTC

Loughla wrote: post #5

toomuchtodo wrote: post #3

Related: H.R.9800 - Protection Against Mass Surveillance Act - https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9800...

Not to be too cynical but >No Federal agency may purchase, deploy, operate, access, or contract for any automated surveillance system that identifies, tracks, or records individuals [. . .] Emphasis mine. Am I wrong or does this 1. not outlaw the purchase of the data, just the systems themselves, 2. not outlaw the use of the data unless it was obtained by the federal government through a system they have purchased, a…

AFAICT, municipalities get paid to put up the cameras, which isn't federal, so flock can then use those cameras to freely gather data and sell it to police

Re: The growing vigilante movement to knock out Flock surveillance cameras

#29

Post by hiworld6543 » Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 9:18 PM UTC

Loughla wrote: post #5

toomuchtodo wrote: post #3

Related: H.R.9800 - Protection Against Mass Surveillance Act - https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9800...

Not to be too cynical but >No Federal agency may purchase, deploy, operate, access, or contract for any automated surveillance system that identifies, tracks, or records individuals [. . .] Emphasis mine. Am I wrong or does this 1. not outlaw the purchase of the data, just the systems themselves, 2. not outlaw the use of the data unless it was obtained by the federal government through a system they have purchased, a…

[dead]

Re: The growing vigilante movement to knock out Flock surveillance cameras

#30

Post by esseph » Sat, Jul 25, 2026, 9:23 PM UTC

ElProlactin wrote: post #23

theendisney wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Violence and destruction are perfectly natural ways of communicating. Some animals use sounds and almost all use body language. One could even argue communicating over the phone or internet lacks the destructive component. Irl behavior is heavily modified by it. Verbal communication is a work in progress. We really want it to work. Sometimes you have to make people listen. Get them back in the program :)

> Violence and destruction are perfectly natural ways of communicating. Some animals use sounds and almost all use body language. Except that animals don't have knives, guns, bombs and nuclear warheads. > Sometimes you have to make people listen. Get them back in the program :) Works great until you're the one being made to listen.

> Except that animals don't have knives, guns, bombs and nuclear warheads.

Yeah, animals will spill your intestines out on the ground and start eating you asshole first while you scream.

And they may even do it for fun and not even eat you, and just let your fleshy bits rot in the sun.