Hacked Data Shows What Flock Cameras Really Record—and It’s Terrifying
The cameras track people, bicycles, and even bumper stickers.
Flock cameras are recording even more than you think.
A hacker collective known as stegan0gram tore down a Flock camera, scoured its insides, and shared the results with WIRED Wednesday, revealing that the proliferating surveillance devices are capturing and logging far more than license plate numbers.
A joint analysis of the camera’s data indicated that it had captured millions of images over the span of just a few weeks, cataloguing people, bicycles, and even small details such as bumper stickers. In one instance, the Flock camera identified an American flag patch on a motorcyclist’s bag.
Those images are then uploaded to Flock’s servers, where they are sorted, filed, assessed for other identifying details (such as car type and manufacturer), and ultimately sold to police departments across the country—a business model that has catapulted the company to a $8.4 billion valuation.
Even America’s smallest cities are under a close eye. The Flock cameras in Alpharetta, Georgia—which has a population of nearly 67,000 people—are accessible to more than 2,000 agencies, according to another WIRED report. Those entities included police departments, colleges, airports, as well as the federal General Services Administration’s Office of Inspector General.
Kansas Citians call to action against Flock cameras; police report more cases of tampering with cameras
Conversations around automated license plate readers, commonly referred to as Flock cameras, are heating up as discussions dive into the legality of privacy for everyday citizens.
But law enforcement says they are using the AI technology to help track criminals and close cases nationwide.
A man suspected of a shooting in Odessa, Missouri, was arrested Thursday after police said they identified his vehicle from a Flock camera. Deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office found the suspect’s car that was flagged by the surveillance camera.
While trying to make an arrest Thursday, 36-year-old Brendan Freed crashed into a deputy’s car in Peculiar. Deputies arrested Freed shortly after a foot chase.
While many departments have reported using the camera technology for criminal cases, it has raised privacy concerns among everyday residents.
Metro neighbors concerned with Flock Safety surveillance cameras increasing as company changes policy
The surveillance technology company, Flock, announced Thursday it is making some changes to operations as privacy concerns continue to grow.
You may have seen the cameras around the metro area, mounted on poles, often with a solar panel attached. They read license plates and capture vehicle details which allows law enforcement to search through data bases for information on possible suspects.
However, many have issues with the Ai-powered surveillance.
Someone in Kearney, Missouri, cut down a Flock camera on Thursday, a city spokesperson confirmed. A different Flock camera was stolen in July in Platte County.
Excelsior Springs hosts Flock-focused town hall after ALPR cameras face public scrutiny
Excelsior Springs residents are raising privacy concerns over the use of automated license plate readers, known as Flock cameras, as the debate over surveillance technology spreads across the Kansas City metro and the nation.
Tracie Hardesty, a member of Excelsior Springs Citizens Against Flock Cameras, says she’s concerned about how data will be used by Flock as a company rather than the local police department.
“I’m concerned about a private company setting up a nationwide surveillance system and what that could potentially lead to,” Hardesty said.
A petition to suspend the use of Flock cameras in Excelsior Springs has gathered over 400 signatures.
“How can we trust that this data can be safe? And that’s a lot of data about a lot of Americans across the country,” Hardesty said.
The Excelsior Springs Police Department defends the cameras as a valuable tool for law enforcement, emphasizing their efficiency and limited data collection compared to other technologies like body cameras.
“They’re force multipliers… if I put a police officer on whatever street corner that this camera is on, this camera has the ability to scan every license plate and do the same thing that a police officer could do,” said Lt. Ryan Dowdy of the Excelsior Springs Police Department.
