Regretful cities aren’t sure how to cancel their surveillance contracts, so they are literally covering their cameras.
I 100% guarantee that “deactivated” cameras are still operational. It’s just not the City getting the data.
Heard lots of precious metals in them, wink wink, nudge, nudge, and all that then LoL
Welp. It’s too bad the shitty hotel I used to work at got shut down by the city.
We had TONS of meth heads that would be very appriciative of that information.
or take the whole pole its attached to.
Really though, don’t do the precious metals part, cuz that’s what will get you caught. Carefully destroying them? Very doable, I strongly suspect.
The precious metals content realistically isn’t interesting at all unfortunately. You could make a bit reselling the internal components (like probably not even 3 digits), but the value on the actual copper/etc is negligible. The solar panel is probably the most interesting piece, but the components are cheap as fuck.
They don’t just collect video either. Audio, network traffic, Bluetooth devices, tons of electronic intelligence can still be gotten with covered cameras
seems like they should use those metallic ballon type bags.
Sounds like these cities need an adopt-a-Flock program to get these lonely civil rights violations into new forever homes
Fun fact the panel, inverter, and battery set up in these do not have any tracking features, that’s all in the internals for the camera controller. It’s enough to charge any smart phone or tablet if someone you know is living outside and should have a need of that. You do not need anything more than a Philips head screwdriver for most versions, and a security bit for others, both of which you can have for pennies at any hardware store.
Some flock stuff has microphones so avoid talking during the maintenance session 😜
If you cut the solar panel wire at night, no one will know when it happened.
Charge controllers detect open circuit connections, so it will very likely be in a log when suddenly the controller has an open circuit on the input terminals.
Spray paint the solar panel?
Spray paint the camera
Why not both?
They also include SIM cards that come with a Flock-funded data plan.
Bring an all metal tool box to put the camera in it. Instant faraday cage.
Best to open it somewhere that is not frequented by you though, then you can remove the battery and other useful stuff for recycling.
Or just throw the whole thing in the nearest dumpster and let the garbage company take care of it.
the city was sharing Flock camera data for immigration enforcement
Ah, these are in American cities.
apparently on accident,
Oh yes, definitely American.
(Yes I know I skipped over the part about Ohio)
It’s okay, we don’t care about Ohio either
Makes them more easily identifiable so they can be properly disposed of.
Do also the other thing, where you brake it apart. Same thing, but it’s permanently.
I read the beginning of the title as “Cities are Cowering” and now I think it could easily be a part of an alternate title.
Like your the damn government… Just remove the devices, tell Flock where they can pick them up in the next two weeks otherwise they will be sold as is on open market and pay the termination fee or potential lawsuit. Cities get sued like all the time and I am confident even a moderately competent lawyer could find a cheap way out.
You can 100% remove them with a baseball bat.
They are the city. They can send public works out there to dismantle the cameras and then send Flock the bill for it, if they are unwilling to dismantle themselves.
One step away from being relocated to their actual destination: the bin.
honestly idk why they bothered covering them. just disconnect them… as long as they aren’t damaged I doubt flock could seek anything on it.
They have solar panels and batteries, they aren’t connected to anything.
They’re connected to a pole.
Only connected with cinch straps. They don’t have any wire connection to the pole. That’s what makes them so easy to place all around a city; they’re just throwing them onto pre-existing poles.
likely safer if they ever get caught. it’s not damaging property if there’s simply a trash bag over it.
I’d like to think that the bag is step 1. Step 2 is to balance an old car tire on top, and set it on fire.
I love the theatrics of it, but surely something less polluting can achieve the same results
- City installs trash bags because they’re contractually obligated to keep the devices installed and powered on
- Someone hosts an impromptu Office Space fan meetup, with a fun reenactment of the printer scene
- City sees this, responds with an obvious but legally non-actionable tweet response suggesting it continue (e.g. “Fartsburg loves Mike Judge films, too! So nice to see our citizens enjoying the various forms of recreation and socialization ths city has to offer.”), along with some conspicuously-placed garbage cans near all of the cameras’ installed locations.
- ???
- (No) Profit. (for Flock)
This is why you don’t sign contracts without an obvious out.
Why aren’t they just… Removing them?
Oh. Its probably because removing them is unnecessarily complicated so they need the company to come do it for them.
You don’t have to worry about a complicated removal if you have an angle grinder.
You’d be surprised how few worries I have when I’m brandishing an angle grinder
on a totally unrelated topic, but harbor freight is a great place to get affordable tools.
And if you time your visit right, free bucket!
If you had read the article you’d know that the cities aren’t sure if they can remove them under the terms of their contracts with flock. So they’re covering them while working that out.
I in fact did not read the article.
I’m pretty sure one city did remove them and then Flock just came and put new ones up which is what lead to the trash bags.
We don’t do that here bro
News to me. I wonder when, if ever, I will see this in real life.
You don’t have any trash bags?
I’ve never seen anyone covering Flock cameras nor have I ever seen an average person break a minor law without severe live-ruining repercussions. I have only ever heard of rich people breaking major laws without repercussions.
You don’t hear about it because they haven’t been caught. Then again, we’re talking about covering up a camera… 🤔
Wear a mask and clothing you have never been seen in before that you can dispose of afterward. Maybe use stilts so they’ll be looking for a really tall fucker.
One can also purchase aerosol can extension poles for use with spray paint.
Article reminded me that some people say “by accident” (me) and some say “on accident” (my cousins).
Isn’t this a problem that a can of spray paint can solve?
Use spray on flex seal instead, and go with the black one. It sticks better, and it can only be noticed by the lack of reflection from the lens. The police are unlikely to notice, because they rarely use flock by checking a specific camera (they typically just search the whole system for specific vehicles, from a map view), and if no one reports it it can go unfixed indefinitely
Or
Put a fucking bullet in it. Or ~100. Birdshot should do nicely.
Sure, but then it’s a lot easier to notice it’s broken. It also makes a lot of noise, shooting a gun; and a spray can is silent.
Be the change you want to see
Be the change you don’t want them to see
This is an better idea. I was going to shoot them with a paintball gun.
iirc, paintball marker is slightly translucent, right? So maybe like…a sticker?
Some of the cameras by me are a little high up, which is why initially I thought paintball.
I bet I could fly a drone with a trash bag over it though.
Cool Hand Luke has a tutorial
Excellent reference.
