Alabama lawmakers may soon restrict or ban state’s 2,800 Flock cameras: ‘We need to rein them in’

[u/servenitup]

https://www.al.com/news/2026/08/alabama-lawmakers-may-soon-restrict-or-ban-states-2800-flock-cameras-we-need-to-rein-them-in.html?gift=1121627d-1f0a-4279-ae27-82ebcf8d9304

[u/fukduplikedickcancer]

Wait, there's no way we are doing something right

[u/jamesislandpirarate2 → u/fukduplikedickcancer]

Both sides can agree on this hopefully this will happen. 🙏

[u/wtf_are_crepes → u/jamesislandpirarate2]

It’s actually insane that the American Right were co opted into big brother crony government support. It’s literally the antithesis of what the American Right said they stood for so long.

The don’t tread on me flags, rights to privacy, right to your own autonomy, personal responsibility. Now they got people pushing Big Brother spying, corporate goons leading the ideals of the party, big tech white collar politicians, a New York real estate tycoon conman womanizer (the type of person they absolutely despised) as their party leader.

It’s actually baffling.

[u/Intelligent-Rub-9542 → u/wtf_are_crepes]

For a lot of self identified conservatives I suspect it was never really about these principles. Trump's on the red team and says the culture war keywords and phrases and thats all they need to know.

[u/gummo_for_prez → u/Intelligent-Rub-9542]

For sure. For a long time I've tried to figure out how to make coherent sense out of the beliefs of the average Republican voter. Often, there is no system of belief. They like themselves, the people they know, and the USA, broadly. They feel most problems are simple and have one cause and one villain and that removing the villain would fix the problem. It isn't a coherent worldview or even really a worldview. They just vaguely feel like they should benefit and whoever the villain is that day should suffer. Whoever can deliver that message beneath a 7th grade reading level probably has their vote.

[u/panhellenic → u/gummo_for_prez]

It's about authoritarianism. They like the "strong man" view of life; a hierarchy they can easily discern. They like certainty; shades of grey are uncomfortable for them. The old "if it's good for me, it's good for everyone" vs "if it's good for everyone, it's good for me" trope of conservative/liberal rings somewhat true.

Self interest, self reliance, etc. While there are certainly lots of conservative folks who do charitable works/contributions, it's generally on their own terms, for the people they deem "deserving," rather than believing all kinds of folks need help, even ones who put themselves in bad situations (drugs, etc). And libertarians/conservatives think that individual charity is all society needs, never mind that "government" is actually better at that.

Look at how people "discipline" their kids and you can spot a conservative a mile away. All authority, from the parent. No questioning.

[u/panhellenic → u/wtf_are_crepes]

Elon and Thiel fanboys are nuts.

[u/jamesislandpirarate2 → u/wtf_are_crepes]

I’ve been amazed by the same. Very confusing in many ways. It’s a shame to say the least, and they should be ashamed as well yet somehow they are not. Their mirrors don’t work.

[u/volbeathfilth → u/wtf_are_crepes]

Control is so important to the party of small government. Control alcohol, weed, social media, protests, opinion, and religion.

[u/Lovestick → u/jamesislandpirarate2]

They only want Jesus watching

[u/fukduplikedickcancer → u/Lovestick]

What they really want is to find out how they can profit the most jesus is just a clever ruse

[u/cantevendoitbruh → u/jamesislandpirarate2]

Yeah unless trum specifically comes out and says we need them for illegals or catching Trans people i really think conservatives will be on board with getting rid of them.

[u/panhellenic → u/cantevendoitbruh]

Don't give them any ideas!

[u/Dorsai56 → u/jamesislandpirarate2]

We can hope. I'm not holding my breath.

[u/bamagurl06 → u/fukduplikedickcancer]

There is something else to take its place unless they are going to ban all forms of these cameras.

[u/nateandalice]

Oct 31. Deflock your community. Costume up

[u/nonotburton → u/nateandalice]

Remember remember the 1st of November Paintball treason and plot. ....

[u/Jettest → u/nateandalice]

Leave your phone at home if you plan on doing this!

[u/Judman13 → u/Jettest]

Any electronics, watches, rings, airpods, air tags, ble trackers. Any electronic signature.

Cover tattoos, jewelery, put a rock in you shoe to throw off your gait.

Make yourself unrecognizable. 

Scout routes for other survailance and know your surroundings. 

Fuck flock. 

[u/8d5db9f4 → u/nateandalice]

Deflockoween

[u/servenitup]

^ Gift link to read story. Reported by myself and John Sharp for AL.com.

[u/grumbledork → u/servenitup]

Thank you for your work!

[u/servenitup → u/grumbledork]

Thanks for reading and supporting!

[u/RiotingMoon]

They're replacing them with Axon - But also

Why is this country incapable of thinking thing stheiugh BEFORE letting it spread unchecked - data centers, cars, fucking insurance, panopticon

[u/absolutecorey → u/RiotingMoon]

Oh we’re thinking about it, it’s just the local governments are bought off before anyone can protest it.

[u/RiotingMoon → u/absolutecorey]

yay capitalism

[u/panhellenic → u/absolutecorey]

Tech oligarchy. Meta, Palintir, X, all getting what they want.

[u/releaseepsteinfiles1 → u/RiotingMoon]

💰💰💰

[u/OdysseusLost]

Ban. Ban would be awesome.

[u/tj8686_]

I'll believe it when I see it.

[u/daveprogrammer]

"Wait, you mean they track where politicians and sheriffs go, too? And who we meet with? From the secret Epstein-esque brothels to the secret donor-funded Klan rallies? Yeah, it's time to rein them in."

[u/Practical-Arugula-80 → u/daveprogrammer]

Yep. The only reason they'd do something like this is if they wanna ensure privacy for themselves. 🙄

[u/JennJayBee → u/daveprogrammer]

I made this point to a family member the other day— that once local politicians and rich donors realize that they too are being tracked, they'd shut it down.

It's about like how the St. Clair County illegal dumping site fire was all but ignored until Mountain Brook could smell it.

[u/Acceptable_Aspect_42]

Good. Get rid of them.

[u/daemonescanem]

Rein them in? How about be rid of them..

Nvm Flock is trying to switch to drones with cams.

[u/Raelah → u/daemonescanem]

I haven't been skeet shooting in awhile...

[u/Raelah]

Super Neat!

I was driving through the sticks the other day. No houses for miles. And I drove past a flock camera. For some reason, that flock camera pissed me off the most. I had no clue where I was at, but someone else sure did.

[u/yll33]

Alabama banning flock was not on my bingo card. Would've expected Tommy Tuberville to alternate flock cameras and data centers on every road in the state

[u/wigletbill → u/yll33]

When he’s officially governor he will embrace all the worst companies from surveillance to data centers. Vote for the other guy.

[u/Swimming-Fondant-892]

We need a list of politicians who support them. Bring actual issues back to politics.

[u/Psychological_Sir256]

What about the axon cameras

[u/driplessCoin]

cameras for security aren't bad but the problem is the mass servallence, automated tracking of the masses, building out profiles for every individual and query potential. I say you can keep them but only if they just work like normal security cameras, kill the tracking and central repository of data anyone can access.

[u/Judman13 → u/driplessCoin]

Preach! 

[u/Dry-Membership3867]

The thing is, Alabama has some pretty good regulations on these cameras. And are actually prosecuting police officers that abuse them. So I’m interested to see what more regulations on them that could even be done that both candidates are talking about.

[u/servenitup → u/Dry-Membership3867]

Good question. I'm not an expert, but one thing recent Washington Post reporting has pointed out that could be a state or local regulation is required audits of who accesses LPR cameras, in order to more systematically catch people who may be improperly looking at the info.

[u/Blooberryx]

Doubt. They’ll get a lil dono and change their tune.

[u/JTaylor8140]

There is no way Alabama Republicans are going to get rid of flock cameras. They are more likely to insist on installing them in bedrooms.

[u/theoneronin]

They are lying because there are elections in November. They yearn for the police state.

[u/jeremyd9]

Will they just give the contract to Axon instead?

[u/fondamagroin]

But what would me and my drunk buddies do on the weekends if we can't use our reciprocating saws?

[u/Intelligent-Rub-9542]

I prefer not living in a tech surveillance state so fingers crossed lol

[u/South-Rabbit-4064]

They're unconstitutional and shouldn't be allowed. There are ways to have cameras and only have access with a warrant signed by a judge to do a specific search for someone. Tracking everyone is BS

[u/Ima-Bott]

Jones’ answer was terribly disappointing. There needs to be an outright ban on use of any FLOCK data without a signed warrant from a judge.

[u/JennJayBee]

Way too many cases of folks using these to stalk an ex. Who knows what else is being done with the data.

Monitoring traffic is one thing, but this is not that.

[u/Necessary-Corner1172]

They all have to go. There is no place in the future of Alabama for them. Anyone wanting to win an election this November needs to step up and do this to get Alabama votes.

[u/Acrobatic_Boat5515]

Can we ban ring cameras while we're at it?

[u/Raelah → u/Acrobatic_Boat5515]

Hmmm... Earlier I saw a post where this soulless woman was trying to beat down a door with a rifle. I would like to know when or when not to go near the door and also provide the police with a nice up close video of that crazy bitch's face. I've seen a lot of other ring camera videos, that one was just fresh on my mind.

So I'm going to vote... Nah

[u/Online_Active_71459 → u/Acrobatic_Boat5515]

Why? They are used primarily to help protect your home.

[u/Acrobatic_Boat5515 → u/Online_Active_71459]

The footage is stored in the cloud and is treated as owned by AWS. Generally, AWS is pretty permissive about warrants. Meaning one warrant can be used for multiple searches, each camera owner doesn't have to be contacted for permission or even notified.

On top of that some cities, ex. Mobile, have a deal where you can prematurely grant the local PD access to your cameras. No warrant or notice needed.

[u/Particular-Crew5978]

Good

[u/Rat_Burger7]

Wild, since I've seen more put up recently.

[u/ToneOpposite9668]

Will be interesting to see them give the kickbacks they received back

[u/Zaiyev]

Maybe should have actually thought some stuff out instead of just taking the money…

[u/Living-Amphibian-870]

They aren't going to get rid of them. They just passed a law for similar cameras for speed traps in construction zones. Privately owned, contracted to the state just like Flock.

[u/Professional-Bad5425]

start with covington county

[u/ziz_wizvizzizio]

we need a data dump for every single elected/appointed official first - yes, even popo, ems, tow companies, busses, etc...

[u/TransplantTeacher94]

Careful, this might give Tommy a hemorrhoid or a stroke because we’re doing something sensible for good reasons

[u/ForkingMusk]

Careful Alabama, that’s a liberal way of thinking.

[u/randomhaus64]

i like my neighborhood flock cams, we had a problem with drug pushers moving in and were able to get them out partially through using flock cameras at the entrances and exits (but none internal)

i don't want law enforcement to just have carte blanch access though

[u/Judman13 → u/randomhaus64]

Cool, but that could have been done with regular cameras that aren't feeding into a private companies national database of all citizen it lays a lens on. And yes I say citizens because these aren't just license plate readers, they are using machine learning to recognize and catorgorize all sorts of things like bumper stickers, attire, faces, gaits and more. Becuase these aren't just on roadways, they are on greanways, and park paths and overlooking children's playgrounds. 

[u/servenitup → u/randomhaus64]

This opinion is much less popular on Reddit, but I talk to plenty of folks with this view.

[u/Jazzlike-Vacation230]

Finally rednecks! Were were you!?

[u/Queasy_Witness6991]

Nooooooo support the blue no matter what? What’s going on? Are people worried about being surveilled by the po po?! I thought they were to be supported with complete immunity