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Dissecting Flock Safety: The Cameras Tracking You Are a Security Nightmare [video]

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222 points emsign | 4 comments | 16 Nov 25 15:50 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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echelon ◴[16 Nov 25 16:48 UTC] No.45946439[source]▶
These cameras are showing up everywhere in my state. It's creepy. I had no idea what they were, and now suddenly they're at every intersection, gas station, you name it.

I don't like that the government is tracking everyone's movements so openly. I knew they were doing this with cell phone data, but that wasn't so brazen.

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diogenes_atx ◴[16 Nov 25 16:53 UTC] No.45946482[source]▶
Here in Austin, the city council no longer allows Flock ALPR's (automated license plate readers) on city streets, but Home Depot and other businesses still use them in their parking lots, and they scan your vehicle license plate every time you enter and exit the premises. Flock sells its data to ICE and law enforcement.
replies(2): >>45946595 #>>45947116 #
garrettlangley[dead post] ◴[16 Nov 25 18:13 UTC] No.45947116[source]▶
[flagged]
notrealyme123 ◴[16 Nov 25 18:28 UTC] No.45947232[source]▶
that's an odly specific answer.
replies(1): >>45947585 #
loeg ◴[16 Nov 25 19:15 UTC] No.45947585[source]▶
Seems like a broad dismissal of the claim made upthread ("Flock sells its data to ICE and law enforcement"). Why do you think it is excessively specific?
replies(1): >>45949242 #
array_key_first ◴[16 Nov 25 23:00 UTC] No.45949242{3}[source]▶
Because the specific part here is selling the data and them doing it.

Flock does not sell data, they willingly give it away for free. And, technically, they don't do it - their customers do, and Flock knows and lets them.

Personally, in my view, this is worse. But they don't specifically sell data.

replies(1): >>45949929 #
1. loeg ◴[17 Nov 25 00:51 UTC] No.45949929{4}[source]▶
I think complaints about real things make a more persuasive argument than, you know, falsehoods.
replies(1): >>45953957 #
2. array_key_first ◴[17 Nov 25 14:38 UTC] No.45953957[source]▶
Being right on a technicality doesnt mean that everyone else is lying. We are not stupid, we were not born yesterday: we all understand that "selling data" does not literally mean exchanging money for data. It can also mean treating data haphazardly, or having a culture of extreme data collection. Both of which describe flock.
replies(1): >>45958867 #
3. loeg ◴[17 Nov 25 22:02 UTC] No.45958867[source]▶
It's not a "technicality!" diogenes_atx made a very specific, false claim. Don't do that!

> we all understand that "selling data" does not literally mean exchanging money for data.

You're completely wrong there. That is exactly what it means.

If what you mean is lax security practices, or collecting data in general, just say that. There's really no need to bend over backwards to defend this.

replies(1): >>45975185 #
4. array_key_first ◴[19 Nov 25 02:31 UTC] No.45975185{3}[source]▶
I'm not bending over anywhere - I just disagree with you. Your opinion is not "blessed", it is just as much able to wrong as everyone elses.

They do not sell data, they willingly give it away for free - which is a form of selling data, with a price tag of $0.

Most reasonable human beings will actually say this is slightly worse than "selling" (literal) data. Therefore, I think most people would agree with me, and not with you.

In my mind it's very similar to claiming you're not a thief because you give away the stuff you take. No, you're still a thief, you just love being a thief so much you don't even do it for monetary gain. Which is... worse!