Americans are destroying Flock surveillance cameras
Flock Surveillance Camera Dismantling Across the US: A Summary (美国各地拆除Flock监控摄像头:总结)
This article details a growing trend of vandalism and dismantling of Flock surveillance cameras across the United States, fueled by public anger over their role in aiding immigration enforcement and potential deportations.
What is Flock? (什么是Flock?)
Flock is an Atlanta-based surveillance startup valued at $7.5 billion last year. Its primary product is license plate readers (LPRs), which are deployed across the country to photograph and record vehicle license plates. The company operates a large network of over 6,000 customers and approximately 80,000 cameras nationwide (excluding Alaska).
The Controversy (争议)
The controversy stems from concerns that Flock's data is being used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to locate and deport individuals. While Flock claims it doesn't directly share data with ICE, local police departments have reportedly shared access to Flock’s cameras and databases with federal authorities. This allows authorities to track individuals’ movements and locations.
Acts of Vandalism (破坏行为)
In response to these concerns, individuals and groups are taking direct action. The article highlights several incidents of vandalism and destruction of Flock cameras, including:
- La Mesa, California: Cameras were smashed despite recent city council approval to continue their use.
- Oregon: Six license plate-scanning cameras were cut down and spray-painted with a message protesting surveillance.
- Other States: Similar incidents have been reported in California, Connecticut, Illinois, and Virginia.
Community Response (社区反应)
Beyond vandalism, communities are also actively resisting Flock’s presence:
- Contract Cancellations: Dozens of cities have rejected or are considering ending their contracts with Flock.
- Restricting Federal Access: Some police departments have blocked federal authorities from accessing their Flock-related resources.
- DeFlock Project: A project called DeFlock is mapping license plate readers across the US to raise awareness.
Flock's Response (Flock的回应)
Flock has not publicly commented on the number of cameras that have been destroyed.
**关键词:**监控摄像头, Flock, 车牌识别, 移民执法, 破坏, 隐私 (Surveillance cameras, Flock, License Plate Recognition, Immigration Enforcement, Vandalism, Privacy)