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Knee-jerk Flock panic threatens a tool that’s making our cities safer
NY Post ^ | 8/21/26 | Rich Lowry

Posted on 08/21/2026 3:35:30 PM PDT by Libloather

We have met the enemy — and it is watching us.

There’s a growing backlash against Flock cameras, the automated license plate readers that have become ubiquitous across the country.

The cameras take images of license plates and store them in a searchable database that police departments can query in the course of their investigations.

Opponents of the cameras consider them an instrument of Big Brother, who’s not only watching, but constantly recording and tracking.

Vandals have disabled and stolen the Flock cameras, and even shot them.

There’s a movement to get jurisdictions to cancel their contracts with Flock (the leading such company, but not the only one), and it’s met with some success.

Los Angeles just let its contract with Flock lapse, citing “serious concerns around civil liberties and civil rights issues.”

There’s a reason, though, that police departments so rapidly adopted the cameras — they are an extremely useful investigative tool.

It is certainly true that the technology, like any power we give the police, can be mis-used.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Outdoors; Society; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: cities; deflock; flock; panic; security
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To: Libloather
FU Rich Lowry, what on earth makes you think that our govt could ever be trusted not to abuse surveillance tools like Flock cameras? I think they've already proven the opposite, especially the democrats.
101 posted on 08/21/2026 10:01:44 PM PDT by Bullish (My tagline ran off with another man, but it's okay... I wasn't married to it.)
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To: Libloather

Flock cameras aren’t keeping us safer. They’re keeping us more surveilled.

What would keep us safer is a changed heart of the criminal.


102 posted on 08/21/2026 10:13:03 PM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!)
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To: NorthMountain

That is one of the most brilliant statements I’ve heard in a while. So succinct.

Honestly.

You nailed it completely.


103 posted on 08/21/2026 10:16:55 PM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!)
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To: Billthedrill
There are no laws prohibiting photographing police. SCOTUS has routinely held that is a 1A right. DOJ even filed an Amicus in support of a plaintiff (p was suing Baltimore PD) reaffirming that right under 1A and seizure/destruction of cameras/etc, w/out a warrant, by police also violates 4A and 14A.

https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/crt/legacy/2012/05/17/Sharp_ltr_5-14-12.pdf

That said “flock” these cameras.

104 posted on 08/22/2026 1:54:01 AM PDT by Repeat Offender ( )
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To: jeffersondem

“Early reports say the camera signs at school crossing are influencing behavior, including reduced speeds.”

Apples and oranges. School zone signs threatening / warning about cameras which may or may not exist are entirely different from the Big Brother Flock system.


105 posted on 08/22/2026 3:31:37 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam ( "Trouble knocked at the door, but, hearing laughter, hurrReichied away". - B. Franklin)
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To: sit-rep

And that right there is why our future generations are screweed. Because “it really doesn’t affect me” so it doesn’t bother me mentality is how we got where we are in this country. Congratulations, you are part of the problem in the country and through inaction screwing the future into a true surveillance state


106 posted on 08/22/2026 3:52:21 AM PDT by TermLimits4All ("If you stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything.")
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To: TexasFreeper2009

No they’re not! I support anyone and everyone taking those and the other cameras down. If you suck so bad at your job that you can’t find a criminal without reviling every single person then you shouldn’t be a Leo.


107 posted on 08/22/2026 3:56:42 AM PDT by TermLimits4All ("If you stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything.")
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To: BOBWADE
I’m surprised that folks haven’t tried ballot intitiatives...

Why, yes, those have been so successful. < /sarc>

108 posted on 08/22/2026 4:39:23 AM PDT by GingisK
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To: TermLimits4All

Ya ya ya... I was in my prime and ready to go back when Ruby Ridge and Waco went down. That is when it should have happened but I turned around and there were very few at my 6...

You go ahead and stick your chest out now. But if you take a good look, you will find there is no one on your 6 either. So your pissing into the wind FRiend... the only way it stops now, the only way any of the shit we are facing now stops, is with a bloody civil/revolutionary war. And the only worth i would be is sitting on my porch with my Remington 700 police special 300WINNMAG taking them out at 800 yrds...

My mentality my lily white butt... the voting both ain’t gonna do squat in this era. We missed our window...


109 posted on 08/22/2026 4:39:55 AM PDT by sit-rep (I may be Dumb, but I'm not Stupid!)
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To: Libloather
It's disgusting that so-called Americans are cheering on the surveillance/police-state.

Dipsh*ts putting their head in the noose thinking the rope will protect their necks from vampires.

110 posted on 08/22/2026 4:48:33 AM PDT by Sirius Lee ("Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.)
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To: Secret Agent Man
The person authoring this piece is a monumental moron.

As are the jackboot polishers and police state uber alles commentators on this thread.

111 posted on 08/22/2026 4:53:35 AM PDT by Sirius Lee ("Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.)
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To: Libloather

If Flock sells our data to anyone with a few bucks why are taxpayers paying anything to be surveilled? Seems to me like getting paid to clean bull shit, and selling it back to farmers for fertilizer.


112 posted on 08/22/2026 4:54:17 AM PDT by shoff (Vote Democrat it beats thinking!)
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To: Libloather

At least one can see the flocks. The axons ware the alternative and many Axon systems are already in use. They can be placed in digital stoplights and electronic crosswalk signs. They are invisible and do everything the flocks can do. Some local jurisdictions are refusing the flocks or sending them back but left is the question of whether or not the sheriffs and mayors that do that are grandstanding while installing Axons.


113 posted on 08/22/2026 5:09:45 AM PDT by arthurus (l| covfeve |l nnn)
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To: Libloather

Flocks are not simply license plate readers. They can do many of the things that the new cars are required to do, . The primary purpose is not license plates.. It is rather total knowledge of where drivers go and when, what’s on their smartphones, are both hands on the wheel in the mandated correct position> etc. ad infinitum. Government officials are where they always dreamed to be i.e. they can locate any driver or passenger at any time. And the information will be for saly. That’s in the contract.


114 posted on 08/22/2026 5:14:12 AM PDT by arthurus (l| covfeve |l s)
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To: Libloather

So are criminals and busy.


115 posted on 08/22/2026 6:43:08 AM PDT by Vaduz (NEVER TRUST A DEMOCRAT)
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To: jeffersondem

I think it is already established that everything on your smartphone is going to databanks, many in China.


116 posted on 08/22/2026 7:10:55 AM PDT by arthurus (l| covfeve |l $)
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To: devane617

Israeli has Toka which can hack Flocks and probably Axons to delete information OR CHANGE IT undetectedly. Manufacturing “evidence” has become ever so much easier. When you receive your traffic ticket in the mail that no police officer or even desk clerk ahs issued what happens to your right to confront your accuser other than pulling down the camera, and what will that get you??


117 posted on 08/22/2026 7:17:06 AM PDT by arthurus (l| covfeve |l $&)
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To: Theoria

The final nail in our cultural coffin will be the inevitable decree of digital money as the only “legal tender” permitted.


118 posted on 08/22/2026 7:20:43 AM PDT by arthurus (l| covfeve |l $&@)
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To: MayflowerMadam

“School zone signs threatening / warning about cameras which may or may not exist are entirely different from the Big Brother Flock system.”

You don’t seem to be against school zone cameras. That’s fine.

Are you against cameras recording late at night on streets near churches that have already suffered attempted arson attacks in cities where elected officials routinely denounce Christianity?

Or, are you concerned that might have a chilling effect on irreligious motorists who happen to drive by taking photographs of their own of church entrances, exits, fire lanes, and hydrants?

As much as I love painting with a really big brush, let’s try to fine tune this a little.


119 posted on 08/22/2026 9:51:14 AM PDT by jeffersondem
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; BraveMan; cardinal4; ...

120 posted on 08/22/2026 11:38:25 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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