Flock Cameras, AI and their assault on privacy

October 19, 2026, 02:04 PM

quote:
Originally posted by selogic:
quote:
Originally posted by nhtagmember:
I read something the other day I think on on Jalopnik where someone invented a 'Flock' camera with some modified software that only recorded police vehicles

the police visited and weren't amused

but he was right, if the cops aren't doing anything wrong then they have nothing to worry about being recorded everywhere they go - just like us mere 'civilians' right?
I don't believe that story. There is no standard LEO plate. Different agencies use different style plates .

It works the same way the flock cameras don't even need a plate to identify a car. With adequate computing power and database access, they can use all kinds of characteristics for identification.

The system in question actually didn't work very well, identifying only two of the seven police cars that went by. Still, not bad for a couple of hours of work.

"The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people."
"Odd," said Arthur, "I thought you said it was a democracy."
"I did," said Ford, "it is."
"So," said Arthur, hoping he wasn't sounding ridiculously obtuse, "why don't the people get rid of the lizards?"
"It honestly doesn't occur to them. They've all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they've voted in more or less approximates the government they want."
"You mean they actually vote for the lizards."
"Oh yes," said Ford with a shrug, "of course."
"But," said Arthur, going for the big one again, "why?"
"Because if they didn't vote for a lizard, then the wrong lizard might get in."

October 19, 2026, 04:15 PM

nhtagmember

If I recall it was not specifically looking at plates but was looking at vehicle characteristics with custom written software.

With more work I’m sure it would be far more effective.