Devices that collect information on you

[moke123]

Some would feel more protected, others violated. Surveillance is ubiquitous. There's no escaping it. Our mobile devices are beacons. They can find, watch, and hear us anywhere anytime.

I'm more concerned by the partnership with Flock. A non-LE company. They need not play by the same rules. They are the company behind the LPR camera database that I was testing a few months ago.

 

[BlueSpruce]

EDITED: Many would feel their privacy violated, some more protected, and others don't care because they have nothing to hide. Surveillance is ubiquitous. There's no escaping it. Our mobile devices are beacons. They can find, watch, and hear us anywhere anytime.

Has the number of stolen packages left at doors gone down as a result of security cameras?

I'm more concerned by the partnership with Flock. A non-LE company. They need not play by the same rules. They are the company behind the LPR camera database that I was testing a few months ago.

What are the rules?
What could Flock do with the surveillance video?
Build profiles and sell it for targeted advertising?
Use it for something nefarious?

Here's what GoogleAI says:

• Providing evidence for criminal investigations: Customers or law enforcement can access the footage to find evidence after a crime has occurred. This evidence, such as vehicle make, color, and license plates, can lead to arrests and help build cases.
• Generating real-time alerts for law enforcement: When a vehicle captured by a Flock camera matches a vehicle on a national or state "hot list" (e.g., associated with an AMBER Alert, stolen property, or a wanted suspect), the system sends an immediate alert to local police.
• Enabling searchable footage with AI: Law enforcement can use the Flock system to search for specific vehicle characteristics using natural language queries, such as "blue Toyota sedan with a ladder on the roof". This helps quickly filter through hours of footage.
• Integrating with other public safety systems: Flock's platform can combine data from its own LPR (License Plate Reader) and video cameras with other systems, like gunshot detectors or existing third-party security cameras, to provide a more comprehensive picture during an incident.
• Facilitating cross-jurisdictional investigations: Data can be shared between different law enforcement agencies across the country, allowing them to track suspect vehicles and individuals across various areas.
• Creating a "Resident Safe List" for privacy: For neighborhood association customers, residents can register their license plates to be marked as "resident" or entirely opted out of being captured in the footage, helping to focus investigations on non-residents and protect resident privacy.

Important Privacy and Data Policies:

• Flock Safety does not own the data; the customer (e.g., police department, HOA) does.
• Data is stored securely in the cloud with encryption and is automatically deleted after a default of 30 days, unless a different retention period is required by local law or specified by an elected governing body.
• Flock's cameras are designed to capture vehicle details, not personal information or use facial recognition technology.
• Flock does not sell the data to third parties. Law enforcement access is audited, requiring a stated reason for each search.

 

[AccessBlaster]

If they use your neighbors video feed against you as a surveillance tactic they better have their ducks in a row. Because that's different than your neighbor catching a random crime and cooperating with police.

 

[moke123]

Flock sells access to their database. The company I use buys the data from them. When I was testing it I was amazed at how many times and places my license plate was read. Unfortunately the $5000+ a month price tag was a little too much for us. I did track a random license plate from the street and was able to determine who they were, where they lived, worked, shopped, etc.

• Data is stored securely in the cloud with encryption and is automatically deleted after a default of 30 days, unless a different retention period is required by local law or specified by an elected governing body.

This was discussed in the meeting we had. IIRC, only certain types of data need to be deleted after 30 days. Think your local meter maid who uses LPR's. Private companies don't have to. Flock was rumored to be setting up a deal with UPS, Amazon and other delivery companies to install LPR's on their trucks. How many times a week does UPS drive down your street? Stop at your office?

As far as cellphones . . . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sting...ountermeasures to,a system to catch Stingrays.

 

[BlueSpruce]

So with the widespread availability of AI, surveillance methods that the NSA has been using on specific targets is now being done on a global scale by LEA's and private companies like Flock.

 

[Isaac]

How would you feel if your neighbor across the street opts in to allow constant access to LE? They'd be able to watch you 24/7 without your consent.

Our subdivision was built with 100% Ring so basically as you take a walk down the sidewalk, you hear the 'you are currently being recorded' every 3 seconds. I certainly don't feel good about it, but I've accepted it - I've accepted the reality that anyone who wants to can put a camera on their property that goes across the street, over the top of a fence, or certainly to the sidewalk/street.

And then it naturally follows they can share that with anyone they like.

I don't feel good about it, but I've kinda accepted it as being.

 

[Isaac]

What I'd like to do is record the jerk who lets his 3 dogs out at 5 AM every day, over on the side of my house that we have little to no visibility, and poops them on the gravel between my house and the street and doesn't pick it up!! Now that ought to be a capital offense! I'm SO sick of it, just be a real man and pick up your dog's sh*t

 

[BlueSpruce]

What I'd like to do is record the jerk who lets his 3 dogs out at 5 AM every day, over on the side of my house that we have little to no visibility, and poops them on the gravel between my house and the street and doesn't pick it up!! Now that ought to be a capital offense! I'm SO sick of it, just be a real man and pick up your dog's sh*t

Put up one of those camo wildlife hunting cams. The HOA in the previous community I lived in put them up and caught underage perps that were breaking into our vehicles.