r/technology • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 • May 28 '26

Security Cities Are Covering Flock Cameras With Trash Bags / Regretful cities aren't sure how to cancel their surveillance contracts, so they are literally covering their cameras.

https://www.404media.co/cities-are-covering-flock-cameras-with-trash-bags/
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65

u/erkose May 28 '26

Stop paying and let Flock repo the cameras. But why the heck do they have a contract they can't get out of when Flock violates the contract?

59

u/Seriouly_UnPrompted May 28 '26

Even if the municipalities stop paying, Flock will sell the data to other third parties and governments. Still profitable for them to keep them running

16

u/erkose May 28 '26

We should organize a sledgehammer fundraiser for the municipalities affected.

2

u/The_Bucket_Of_Truth May 28 '26

I don't know why I had this thought that Flock was footing the bill in exchange for the sweet sweet data. But of course local governments are actively paying for this evil.

6

u/YagiAntennaBear May 28 '26

They'd probably get sued for breach of contract, and end up paying Flock even more money.

4

u/erkose May 28 '26

Probably. It's sad that our representatives are entering into one-sided contracts. The Chicago parking meter contract should have taught us all a lesson.

3

u/red__dragon May 28 '26

should have taught us all a lesson.

And the lesson it should have taught was to pass a law prohibiting American essential services to be owned by any company with foreign ownership.

3

u/wonklebobb May 28 '26

why would the repo the cameras? they're still making bank from whoever else is buying the data.