Individuals disabling Flock Safety surveillance cameras due to privacy concerns

Vigilante Actions Against Surveillance

An individual known as "NoMark" has been disabling Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras. He has gained an online following for these actions, which he describes as targeting surveillance technology.

NoMark's methods involve taping over camera lenses and cutting power wires. He claims to have disabled over a dozen cameras, motivated by privacy concerns related to the devices.

Flock Safety Technology and Deployment

Flock Safety, a company valued at $8.4 billion, manufactures ALPR cameras that capture images of passing vehicles and compare them against databases. These cameras are typically pole-mounted and powered by solar panels.

The company reports its cameras scan billions of license plates each month across approximately 6,000 communities in nearly every U.S. state.

Privacy Concerns and Company Response

Critics argue that Flock Safety's ALPRs contribute to mass surveillance by collecting location data on individuals, regardless of their involvement in criminal activity, and without requiring a warrant. This has led to widespread backlash from privacy advocates.

Flock Safety has stated in a blog post that its ALPRs are not mass surveillance tools and cannot track vehicles or individuals. The company maintains its technology is not designed for such purposes.