Everett shuts down Flock camera network after judge rules footage public record • Hacker News Board

Re: Everett shuts down Flock camera network after judge rules footage public record

#11

Post by 1123581321 » Mon, Mar 02, 2026, 4:40 AM UTC

This is a good article about some of the legal particulars. https://www.heraldnet.com/2026/02/24/snohomish-county-judge-...

The defense of the photos not being government business until accessed seems shaky. That the physical camera installations were purposeful intentions to conduct government business in those areas is a reasonable line; this doesn't set precedent for Google's information becoming public records because the police might do a google search, to use an extreme example.

The proposed legislative amendment that would exclude Flock footage from public records (which would make this judgment moot) makes sense in the light of red light cameras already being excluded by the same legislators. However, I'd like to see a more incisive law covering both that would compel a reasonable amount of public insight into the footage.

Re: Everett shuts down Flock camera network after judge rules footage public record

#12

Post by chaps » Mon, Mar 02, 2026, 4:41 AM UTC

SlightlyLeftPad wrote: post #7

Does them removing it simply because it’s public record imply that they were up to no good?

They're not removing cameras.

> For now, Everett’s Flock camera network remains offline, as the debate over transparency, privacy and public safety continues in the Legislature. The bill in Olympia that would put guidelines on Flock's data has passed in the Senate.

Re: Everett shuts down Flock camera network after judge rules footage public record

#13

Post by hyperific » Mon, Mar 02, 2026, 4:50 AM UTC

According to the article, the Flock cameras are still in place but are "offline".

Why does that not convince me?

Re: Everett shuts down Flock camera network after judge rules footage public record

#14

Post by CamperBob2 » Mon, Mar 02, 2026, 5:13 AM UTC

1123581321 wrote: post #11

This is a good article about some of the legal particulars. https://www.heraldnet.com/2026/02/24/snohomish-county-judge-... The defense of the photos not being government business until accessed seems shaky. That the physical camera installations were purposeful intentions to conduct government business in those areas is a reasonable line; this doesn't set precedent for Google's information becoming public records be…

The defense of the photos not being government business until accessed seems shaky.

It's reminiscent of the NSA's argument that data "collection" occurs only when a search is performed on existing "gathered" data. File under "Stuff that's only legal when the government does it."

Re: Everett shuts down Flock camera network after judge rules footage public record

#15

Post by bl4kers » Mon, Mar 02, 2026, 5:24 AM UTC

hyperific wrote: post #13

According to the article, the Flock cameras are still in place but are "offline". Why does that not convince me?

Are there cameras pointed at the offline Flock cameras? I sure hope so because it would be a shame if they disappeared...

Re: Everett shuts down Flock camera network after judge rules footage public record

#16

Post by chkaloon » Mon, Mar 02, 2026, 5:32 AM UTC

Awesome. I think I'll put in an open records request for the cameras down the street in my little Wisconsin town. See what happens

Re: Everett shuts down Flock camera network after judge rules footage public record

#17

Post by N_Lens » Mon, Mar 02, 2026, 5:37 AM UTC

"The masses/general populace are the enemy" - once you understand that this is the fundamental belief at the root of the elites behaviour, everything will make sense. Flock cameras and AI surveillance is designed to reign in 'the enemy'.

Re: Everett shuts down Flock camera network after judge rules footage public record

#18

Post by timschmidt » Mon, Mar 02, 2026, 5:38 AM UTC

SlightlyLeftPad wrote: post #10

timschmidt wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well if they had nothing to hide... /s

> “We were very disappointed,” Franklin said. “That means perpetrators of crime, people who are maybe engaged in domestic abuse or stalkers, they can request footage and that could cause a lot of harm.” No concern over the dozens (or hundreds?) of cases of police or government employees themselves doing exactly what they’re afraid of here. Strange.

Or for what can already be purchased from a data broker on the open market.

Re: Everett shuts down Flock camera network after judge rules footage public record

#19

Post by sriram_malhar » Mon, Mar 02, 2026, 5:55 AM UTC

GiorgioG wrote: post #6

Great now let’s follow suit in all 50 states.

Red states have zero crime, so they don't need them in the first place. /s

Re: Everett shuts down Flock camera network after judge rules footage public record

#20

Post by neverkn0wsb357 » Mon, Mar 02, 2026, 6:03 AM UTC

I think the person requesting to access the data was doing the right thing and I agree with the judge’s ruling.

The fact that they’re gonna shut it down, implies the scale of indiscriminate nature of data capture and the volume of data being captured.

These cameras are popping up all over the nation and if people realize how much data is being captured and where that data is going (or who it’s being sold to) and how it’s being used by government and private entities they would be appalled.

There’s been exposés about these cameras, everything from AI misidentification of “stolen” (not) vehicles and erroneous arrests and police encounters, to analysis of shopping patterns being sold back to private entities for better ad targeting. It’s wild.