During a San Diego city council meeting, an individual dressed as Darth Vader addressed the Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee. The speaker, whose identity was not revealed, used the persona to express concerns about the city's surveillance practices.
The impersonator sarcastically endorsed Flock technology, stating it would help 'follow and surveil the rebel scum' and 'stalk my ex-girlfriend,' implying the technology's potential for misuse. The speaker questioned how the public could trust the city council if it continued to approve surveillance technologies that 'imprison them,' referencing a previous vote on an Unsafe Camping Ordinance.
San Diego currently has more than 550 Flock cameras installed. The city also has a year-long agreement for Flock's Nova service, which provides the San Diego Police Department with access to 'open source intelligence' and data from other law enforcement agencies.
Flock's Nova service reportedly supplements license plate data with personal information from various sources. An internal company meeting audio, obtained by 404 Media, indicated that Nova allows users to link license plate data to individuals and understand their context, including relationships through marriage or gang affiliation.
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A person dressed as Darth Vader spoke at a San Diego city council meeting, sarcastically advocating for the city's continued use of Flock surveillance technology to highlight privacy concerns. The impersonator's comments drew attention to the extensive data collection capabilities of Flock's Nova service, which reportedly links license plate data with personal information.