The Morning Rant

Surveillance cameras are becoming very common in America, and have been ubiquitous in other parts of the world for many years. Private cameras are very different from government-controlled surveillance, and government demands for privately-acquired data usually go through the courts.

But governments are increasingly relying on their own cameras, and those cameras are often owned and controlled by Flock Safety, a private company that specializes in Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) systems. They are sophisticated cameras that send data to an equally sophisticated system that can not only read plates, but also identify unique characteristics on vehicles: bumper stickers, roof racks, trailer hitches, accident damage, etc.

And that data are collected and collated and can develop a comprehensive picture of vehicle movement over days or years. Did I say "can?" Of course they do. Assuming benign intent on the part of any corporation is naive, and assuming it when that corporation partners with government is laughable.

The passive accumulation of data on our movements is disturbing even if it were to occur on a single day. Yes, the Fourth Amendment speaks to "persons, houses, papers, and effects," and is of less utility in public. But this surveillance is permanent, long term accumulation of information that in the aggregate is nobody's business...least of all government!

This isn't a cop parked on the side of the road who happens to notice something. This is surveillance in the absence of probable cause, and that violates the spirit of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The government parses our rights to diminish their impact on its fanatical desire to know everything about us, but routine surveillance without a court order seems to be a clear violation of our right to be safe from government observation.

And it isn't just government that uses Flock....HOAs are big users of their systems for their deeply disturbing Big Brother activities. Of course HOAs are the Devil, so that isn't surprising, but the constant intrusion into our private lives is maddening.

But Americans seem to be a bit irritated by these cameras and the attendant gathering of information, and the response has been heartening.

Air Force Engineer Accused of Cutting Down 13 Police Cameras Says They're Unconstitutional
2 Flock cameras 'intentionally cut down' in South Carolina town amid nationwide camera controversy
Young People Are Destroying ‘Flock Safety Cameras’ In Viral Trend

Far be it for me to suggest anything illegal, but I sure hope some freedom-loving patriotic American is on the jury for that Air Force engineer.

If you are curious about the locations of the these cameras, here is a website that tracks them. deflock.org seems like it works pretty well...I checked one in my area this morning, and yup! it was where they said it would be. Luckily not in my little village, but near enough to irritate!

Like the arguments against the Second Amendment...banning guns will make us all safer! I don't care. Even if that were true (and I do not believe that it is), freedom and liberty are inherently chaotic, and we must tolerate some level of law breaking as a consequence of our freedom.

That tradeoff is absolutely part of the social compact among free men, and to argue against it is to reject the concept of natural, God-given rights.

[Hat Tip: dhmosquito]
[Crossposted at CutJibNewsletter and X/Twitter]. If you folks who are on X/Twitter would follow us it would be much appreciated!

Posted by: CBD at 11:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 FIRST!!!!!

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 11:01 AM (2YhKe)

2 The thread is late!

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at July 09, 2026 11:01 AM (N1tpc)

3 What the cock's comb is going on around here?

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 11:01 AM (2YhKe)

4 Nooded.

Posted by: Nazdar at July 09, 2026 11:02 AM (NcvvS)

5 Hiya

Posted by: Lizzy at July 09, 2026 11:02 AM (X8xt3)

6 I am pro law enforcement but I will refuse to report any vandalism like this.

Posted by: NR Pax at July 09, 2026 11:02 AM (/k3in)

7 Who would have thought that Big Brother would use outsourcing?

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at July 09, 2026 11:02 AM (N1tpc)

8 I remember 2020.

NO I DO NOT TRUST.

these cams HAVE TO GO.

I'd have never been able to sneak out of PA!

Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at July 09, 2026 11:02 AM (j+aD2)

9 6 I am pro law enforcement but I will refuse to report any vandalism like this.

I will vandalize them myself.

Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at July 09, 2026 11:02 AM (j+aD2)

10 Violates the 4th Amendment, no?

Posted by: Lizzy at July 09, 2026 11:03 AM (X8xt3)

11 The passive accumulation of data on our movements is disturbing even if it were to occur on a single day. Yes, the Fourth Amendment speaks to "persons, houses, papers, and effects," and is of less utility in public. But this surveillance is permanent, long term accumulation of information that in the aggregate is nobody's business...least of all government!

It's for your safety.......

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 11:03 AM (2YhKe)

12 Nooded.
Posted by: Nazdar at July 09, 2026 11:02 AM (NcvvS)

*fistbump*

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 11:04 AM (2YhKe)

13 This isn't a cop parked on the side of the road who happens to notice something. This is surveillance in the absence of probable cause, and that violates the spirit of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The government parses our rights to diminish their impact on its fanatical desire to know everything about us, but routine surveillance without a court order seems to be a clear violation of our right to be safe from government observation.

I don't like the Thread Winner paradigm, but if I did, this is it.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 09, 2026 11:04 AM (Riz8t)

14 to argue against it is to reject the concept of gladiator movies.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at July 09, 2026 11:04 AM (Kt19C)

15 Without the flock cameras, I'm pretty sure the police would just use the doorbell cameras connected to the web.

I didn't expect that all-encompassing surveillance would come through private companies first, but it actually makes sense.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at July 09, 2026 11:04 AM (N1tpc)

16 Violates the 4th Amendment, no?
Posted by: Lizzy at July 09, 2026 11:03 AM (X8xt3)

It's cute you think the government gives a flying f*ck about The Constitution.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 11:04 AM (2YhKe)

17 Remember in 2001 when everyone was upset that law enforcement would be looking at your library usage thanks to the Patriot Act?

Good times!

Posted by: Lizzy at July 09, 2026 11:04 AM (X8xt3)

18
Fuckin' Jeremy fuckin' Bentham.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at July 09, 2026 11:04 AM (BI5O2)

19 A few days ago, I watched a video of a man fighting a ticket that used a picture taken by a Flock camera. It was AI generated, he wasn't in the area at the time and he had no way to talk to a human being about it.

This is obscene and needs to be ended right now.

Posted by: NR Pax at July 09, 2026 11:04 AM (/k3in)

20 I am pro law enforcement but I will refuse to report any vandalism like this.
Posted by: NR Pax at July 09, 2026 11:02 AM (/k3in)

Ditto.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at July 09, 2026 11:05 AM (N1tpc)

21 How about a drone that sprays paint on the camera?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at July 09, 2026 11:05 AM (Cqx++)

22 Old: Big Brother Is Watching.
New: You Have No Right To Privacy.

Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at July 09, 2026 11:05 AM (MNCvZ)

23 2 The thread is late!

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at July 09, 2026 11:01 AM (N1tpc)

It took a minute to overturn the Hawaiian judge.

There was an issue I think on GatewayPundit where surveillance systems were being used in an urban area but were turned off for....telling the truth about the perps.

Posted by: Stateless - He ain't heavy, he's my dog at July 09, 2026 11:05 AM (Sco7b)

24 >>Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 11:04 AM (2YhKe)

*fistbump*

Posted by: Nazdar at July 09, 2026 11:05 AM (NcvvS)

25 What the flock!?

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at July 09, 2026 11:06 AM (amcLV)

26 You mean like the Telescreen?

Posted by: Orwell comma George at July 09, 2026 11:06 AM (2Ez/1)

27 I'm in favor of all cameras on public property being removed. We have enough of Big Brother without making it easy on them.

I'd also really like it if Amazon and Google would stop dumping our info to the NSA, while I'm dreaming.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at July 09, 2026 11:06 AM (xcxpd)

28 Only have 2 Flock cameras identified in my little town, though I'm sure there are quite a few more.

Plenty of other cameras, however.

First thing the campus police chief did when he came on board was install a vast network of security cameras across campus.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 09, 2026 11:06 AM (FZ29D)

29 >>They are sophisticated cameras that send data to an equally sophisticated system that can not only read plates, but also identify unique characteristics on vehicles: bumper stickers, roof racks, trailer hitches, accident damage, etc.

FWIW, seen on X that they also capture, then track people via their electronics (phone) and Bluetooth devices. Next level tracking when you're not in your car.

Posted by: Lizzy at July 09, 2026 11:06 AM (X8xt3)

30 There was an issue I think on GatewayPundit where surveillance systems were being used in an urban area but were turned off for....telling the truth about the perps.
Posted by: Stateless - He ain't heavy, he's my dog at July 09, 2026 11:05 AM (Sco7b)

Yeah. It's interesting that the left might take down the surveillance state NOT from constitutional concerns but from the fact that it makes their pet minorities look bad. (i.e. portrays them correctly.)

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at July 09, 2026 11:07 AM (N1tpc)

31 16 Violates the 4th Amendment, no?
Posted by: Lizzy at July 09, 2026 11:03 AM (X8xt3)

It's cute you think the government gives a flying f*ck about The Constitution.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 11:04 AM (2YhKe)

They care...they just consider it an obstacle

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at July 09, 2026 11:07 AM (xcxpd)

32 There was an issue I think on GatewayPundit where surveillance systems were being used in an urban area but were turned off for....telling the truth about the perps.
Posted by: Stateless - He ain't heavy, he's my dog at July 09, 2026 11:05 AM (Sco7b)

There's an old NCIS episode where Gibbs tells a guy that there's some obnoxious amount of cameras in DC that can do hi res facial recognition up to 500 ft.........

And the guy says "That seems an invasion of privacy."

Hell the f*ck YES it is........

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 11:08 AM (2YhKe)

33 IIRC, the UK has had extensive CCV camera surveillance and what has that gotten them?

Has this stopped terrorism, acid attacks, child rape, beheadings?

They can watch, but does this affect the will to do old fashioned police *action*?

Posted by: Lizzy at July 09, 2026 11:08 AM (X8xt3)

34 19 A few days ago, I watched a video of a man fighting a ticket that used a picture taken by a Flock camera. It was AI generated, he wasn't in the area at the time and he had no way to talk to a human being about it.

This is obscene and needs to be ended right now.
Posted by: NR Pax at July 09, 2026 11:04 AM
******

I think that was in Pensacola.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at July 09, 2026 11:09 AM (2Ez/1)

35 First thing the campus police chief did when he came on board was install a vast network of security cameras across campus.

That's different, I think, because a campus is private property, and the owner of that property can make acceptance of the cameras a condition of your presence on the property. Like censorship, it's different when government does it.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 09, 2026 11:09 AM (Riz8t)

36 Morning.

I've said it before but if I found out I'm being monitored through my own electronics I'm stripping down naked, covering myself in peanut butter and sticking a giant pickle up my ass before masturbating furiously. Stopping them might be difficult but making them regret it for the rest of their lives? The only limit is my imagination.

Posted by: Robert at July 09, 2026 11:09 AM (dpXJq)

37 I don't oppose license plate readers on the interstates or owner run HOA communities.

Hell I have a Ring camera that covers the street.

I do oppose government run cameras in public areas though.

Posted by: polynikes at July 09, 2026 11:09 AM (/WQyy)

38 IIRC, the UK has had extensive CCV camera surveillance and what has that gotten them?

Has this stopped terrorism, acid attacks, child rape, beheadings?

They can watch, but does this affect the will to do old fashioned police *action*?
Posted by: Lizzy at July 09, 2026 11:08 AM (X8xt3)

If they see whitey doing any of those things, they will be on him like stink on shit.

If the correct people commit the crimes, they delete the footage.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 11:09 AM (2YhKe)

39 Heh.
Looks like about a dozen in my town. Funny. They cover the brand new Fire and PD but leave the Post Office uncovered.

Posted by: Diogenes at July 09, 2026 11:09 AM (2WIwB)

40 Violates the 4th Amendment, no?

Probably not. It's just skeezy.

Posted by: Oddbob at July 09, 2026 11:10 AM (vTZFs)

41 By the way, I'm warming up cinnamon rolls. Anyone want one?

Posted by: Robert at July 09, 2026 11:10 AM (dpXJq)

42 There's an old NCIS episode where Gibbs tells a guy that there's some obnoxious amount of cameras in DC that can do hi res facial recognition up to 500 ft.........

And the guy says "That seems an invasion of privacy."

Hell the f*ck YES it is........
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 11:08 AM (2YhKe)
----
Your local Walmart has cameras that can ID someone in high resolution across the parking lot next door.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 09, 2026 11:10 AM (FZ29D)

43 OTOH, ShotSpotter is rayciss.

https://youtu.be/EATpEa7aiGQ

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at July 09, 2026 11:10 AM (ExV1e)

44 Judge caught on camera just walked.

The cameras have to go. Recording movements is just this side of wiretaps. System is corrupted.

Posted by: connected and litigious at July 09, 2026 11:10 AM (cS1cw)

45 Matt Van Swol
@mattvanswol
3h
🚨#BREAKING: Officials in Houston TX are PANICKING after TWO MORE Flock cameras were chopped down yesterday.

This makes 4 Flock cams destroyed in 3 days.

Allegedly, the public is sending hundreds of tips saying things like, "the cameras are succumbing to heat exhaustion..."
Jul 9, 2026 · 11:45 AM UTC

Posted by: Kindltot at July 09, 2026 11:10 AM (rbvCR)

46 HOA's are communism in full frontal supported by those that are supposed to hate communism.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 11:10 AM (2YhKe)

47 >>There was an issue I think on GatewayPundit where surveillance systems were being used in an urban area but were turned off for....telling the truth about the perps.

For example, San Francisco subway system, right?
Or is it that they just won't release any footage to the public?

Posted by: Lizzy at July 09, 2026 11:10 AM (X8xt3)

48 Willowed

315 There is apparently an 11-minute suspension video.
Posted by: m at July 09, 2026 10:49 AM (6wpGE)

I have heard there is a recording of his private meeting prior to that announcement where he thanked his staff, gave them permission to move on and then married Eva Braun
Posted by: Kindltot at July 09, 2026 11:08 AM (rbvCR)

If there was ever a situation that called for another Downfall meme video, this would be it.

Posted by: WisRich at July 09, 2026 11:10 AM (G0vdT)

49 This is another of those 80/20 issues which smart Republicans ( yeah, yeah) can exploit. Most people hate the idea of the government spying on us, but you know that if Trump comes out against the cameras, the Dems will argue loudly for them.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 09, 2026 11:10 AM (Riz8t)

50 One of my favorite of the later episodes of "X-Files" is the one where the HOA President is using some Asian golem he discovered on an adventure trip to eat up all the wreckers with unseemly exterior decorations.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at July 09, 2026 11:11 AM (BI5O2)

51 21 How about a drone that sprays paint on the camera?
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at July 09, 2026 11:05 AM (Cqx++)

Hey!
We use those only to paint tall houses!

Posted by: Dwarf Painters Inc. at July 09, 2026 11:11 AM (2WIwB)

52 Violates the 4th Amendment, no?
Posted by: Lizzy at July 09, 2026 11:03 AM (X8xt3)

As long as it only affects citizens, it's perfectly fine. -- SCOTUS

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at July 09, 2026 11:11 AM (ExV1e)

53 Facial recognition and thumb print recognition are used for everything from payroll to signing onto your smartphone to signing onto your notebook and gaining access to you amazon account. AI has a complete map of your uniqueness. GPS and CCV are a tracking mechanism. You've been made.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at July 09, 2026 11:12 AM (fkjGs)

54 IIRC, the UK has had extensive CCV camera surveillance and what has that gotten them?

Has this stopped terrorism, acid attacks, child rape, beheadings?

They can watch, but does this affect the will to do old fashioned police *action*?
Posted by: Lizzy at July 09, 2026 11:08 AM (X8xt3)

From some report on the London system, the operators mostly use it to check out hot chicks and keep an eye on who is drawing money out of banks and ATMs
Also, it was rumored that they whole system went down at the beginning of the Russian Ukraine war and no one noticed for a while.

Posted by: Kindltot at July 09, 2026 11:12 AM (rbvCR)

55 A couple things about these Flock camera systems;

- The database access isn't just limited to LE, anyone with a subscription license can search it. It isn't cheap either.

- The cameras (video recorders) are popping up in unusual places; playgrounds, public parks and swimming pools, shopping centers, etc. In some cases they are not pointed at the parking lot, but rather at a store front, the kiddie pool or children's playground.

Some speculate the number of p3d0's with access to the system isn't insignificant. And they use it to case certain areas for later "activity." Others say it's just security precautions. It certainly can be both.

Our little town has several. And a budget of around $70K for licensing, data access and the equipment. Far more than the public works dept. has available.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 09, 2026 11:12 AM (jehhT)

56 36 Morning.

I've said it before but if I found out I'm being monitored through my own electronics I'm stripping down naked, covering myself in peanut butter and sticking a giant pickle up my ass before masturbating furiously. Stopping them might be difficult but making them regret it for the rest of their lives? The only limit is my imagination.
Posted by: Robert at July 09, 2026 11:09 AM (dpXJq)

I have some news for you but...I'm rethinking delivering it now

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at July 09, 2026 11:13 AM (xcxpd)

57
As long as it only affects citizens, it's perfectly fine. -- SCOTUS
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at July 09, 2026 11:11 AM (ExV1e)

"IT'S A TAX!!!"

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 11:13 AM (2YhKe)

58 Data Center, ie Surveillance Center

Posted by: ... at July 09, 2026 11:13 AM (LCr8f)

59 15 Without the flock cameras, I'm pretty sure the police would just use the doorbell cameras connected to the web.

I didn't expect that all-encompassing surveillance would come through private companies first, but it actually makes sense.
Posted by: Formerly Virginian

Third person doctrine and a distortion of Katz ruling which is the current 4th amendment standard of reasonable expectation of privacy. Computers were not advanced back then to allow a continuous dossier to be compiled of citizen movements, almost 24-7 in real time and for later perusal. Between cell phone geolocation, Flock cameras, and police being able to access text messaging, email, call records, and all spending/banking information without a warrant, then the shreds of privacy left scarcely prevents police from focusing on disliked individuals and then trying to find the crime.

Just this week, several GA police officers were fired and criminally charged for misuse of Flock camera information and I suspect that is the tip of the iceberg.

Like Alito said in another case involving trackers, there should be a mosaic theory of warrants because technology advances have shredded the old Katz std.

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 11:13 AM (E4rtv)

60 Owner run HOAs are different than developer run HOAs.

Posted by: polynikes at July 09, 2026 11:13 AM (/WQyy)

61 Looked it up yesterday. There's one on the highway at the other end of my little town.

Posted by: Nazdar at July 09, 2026 11:13 AM (NcvvS)

62
I have some news for you but...I'm rethinking delivering it now
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at July 09, 2026 11:13 AM (xcxpd)

Posted by: Ice-T at July 09, 2026 11:13 AM (2YhKe)

63 Another incident involved a detective going to a woman's house insisting that she had been a porch pirate based on a flock camera. He was not interested in arguing with her because she was guilty.

When she fought back with her own cameras that showed her somewhere else, he suddenly lost interest in the case.

Posted by: NR Pax at July 09, 2026 11:14 AM (/k3in)

64 Owner run HOAs are different than developer run HOAs.
Posted by: polynikes at July 09, 2026 11:13 AM (/WQyy)

Don't care.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 11:14 AM (2YhKe)

65 don't care. Even if that were true (and I do not believe that it is), freedom and liberty are inherently chaotic, and we must tolerate some level of law breaking as a consequence of our freedom.

That tradeoff is absolutely part of the social compact among free men, and to argue against it is to reject the concept of natural, God-given rights.

THIS. A Billion times this.

Posted by: From about That Time at July 09, 2026 11:14 AM (sl73Y)

66 Fuckin' Jeremy fuckin' Bentham.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at July 09, 2026 11:04 AM (BI5O2
--------
Fuck yeah!

Posted by: Edmund Burke at July 09, 2026 11:14 AM (amcLV)

67 >>Data Center, ie Surveillance Center

Yep, assumed that was the case.
They are collecting so much data on everyone that they need facilities to store and process it.

Posted by: Lizzy at July 09, 2026 11:14 AM (X8xt3)

68 I have some news for you but...I'm rethinking delivering it now
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at July 09, 2026 11:13 AM (xcxpd)

Come on, we're all friends here.

Care for a pickle?

Posted by: Robert at July 09, 2026 11:14 AM (dpXJq)

69 Just take a pipe cutter to those parking meters while you're at it.

https://youtu.be/UBeHbMzyG7A

Posted by: Cool Hand Luke at July 09, 2026 11:14 AM (2Ez/1)

70 For example, San Francisco subway system, right?
Or is it that they just won't release any footage to the public?
Posted by: Lizzy
======
They won't release footage in violation of Open Records laws.

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 11:15 AM (E4rtv)

71 I will vandalize them myself.

Pro tip: leave your cell phone at home.
-- J6ers

Posted by: Oddbob at July 09, 2026 11:15 AM (vTZFs)

72 Shockingly, my town does not appear to have any cameras, which I am sure is what THEY want us to think.

Posted by: toby928(c) at July 09, 2026 11:15 AM (4NO2D)

73 IIRC, the UK has had extensive CCV camera surveillance and what has that gotten them?

Has this stopped terrorism, acid attacks, child rape, beheadings?

If the government wanted to stop those things it would but the better class of people is currently unaffected by 'crime' so it's more important to bask in the accolades of your fellows for embracing diversity.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at July 09, 2026 11:15 AM (ExV1e)

74 My understanding is law enforcement needs a warrant to access any of the non government electronic information.

Flock cameras are 'government' electronic info.

Posted by: polynikes at July 09, 2026 11:15 AM (/WQyy)

75 Just take a pipe cutter to those parking meters while you're at it.

https://youtu.be/UBeHbMzyG7A

Posted by: Cool Hand Luke at July 09, 2026 11:14 AM (2Ez/1)

My dad used to have a few of those. Not sure what happened to them as I didn't find any when we cleaned out the shop.

They're hella expensive now.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 11:16 AM (2YhKe)

76 Posted by: Archimedes at July 09, 2026 11:10 AM (Riz8t)

What "good" things have Democrats supported in the last 100 years? The answer will shock you.

Posted by: ... at July 09, 2026 11:16 AM (LCr8f)

77 >> Another incident involved a detective going to a woman's house insisting that she had been a porch pirate based on a flock camera. He was not interested in arguing with her because she was guilty.

I saw that video on X - unreal.
The cop said she did it and used the Flock footage as defacto proof of guilt, like hey, it wasn't his decision, the cameras show it, talk to the hand!

Posted by: Lizzy at July 09, 2026 11:17 AM (X8xt3)

78 63 Another incident involved a detective going to a woman's house insisting that she had been a porch pirate based on a flock camera. He was not interested in arguing with her because she was guilty.

When she fought back with her own cameras that showed her somewhere else, he suddenly lost interest in the case.
Posted by: NR Pax
=====
I think that was a NJ case and the pigheaded cop alleged she was the porch pirate simply because her car passed by a Flock camera on her commute to another town.

Guy shows up at her house and starts berating her trying to get her to admit guilt (ironically I think caught on a doorbell camera by the homeowner).

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 11:17 AM (E4rtv)

79 When she fought back with her own cameras that showed her somewhere else, he suddenly lost interest in the case.

We need a few cases of Flock getting the sh*t sued outta them and a few cops losing qualified immunity.

Posted by: Oddbob at July 09, 2026 11:17 AM (vTZFs)

80 What percentage of the vibrant diverse classes have license plates?

Posted by: ... at July 09, 2026 11:18 AM (LCr8f)

81 Don't care.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 11:14 AM (2YhKe)

Didn't say you had to. But if you want to make your argument like they are , that's intellectually dishonest.

Posted by: polynikes at July 09, 2026 11:18 AM (/WQyy)

82
MUNKEY

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at July 09, 2026 11:18 AM (y9nCu)

83 >>- The database access isn't just limited to LE, anyone with a subscription license can search it. It isn't cheap either.

So. . . a hostile foreign government, a local antifa, etc., too?

Posted by: Lizzy at July 09, 2026 11:18 AM (X8xt3)

84 But what about the children? I have the sadz /s

Posted by: NALNAMSAM at July 09, 2026 11:18 AM (VkY89)

85 From the very beginning, the courts, right up to SCOTUS have hated cars.

Nothing is more obscene to the statist and communists in black robes than the idea that the people should be able to move freely about.

And nothing has done more abuse to the 4th Amendment than their personal animosity toward the freedom of motorists.
It's not too far a stretch to read their opinions with an air of "well of course the police should be able to stop anyone anywhere in any car for any reason--the police are angels doing the Lord's work against those evil-doers who dare think they can drive on our roads."

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at July 09, 2026 11:18 AM (3cUTc)

86 >>>Care for a pickle?

Posted by: Robert

>Dude, that shit is already out there. We saw you on tik-tok.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at July 09, 2026 11:19 AM (fkjGs)

87 We need a few cases of Flock getting the sh*t sued outta them and a few cops losing qualified immunity.
Posted by: Oddbob

That's an odd way to spell tarred and feathered. Maybe your autocorrect is acting up?

Posted by: NR Pax at July 09, 2026 11:19 AM (/k3in)

88 Officials in Houston TX are PANICKING...

I hate headlines like this. Overstated BS.

Posted by: Diogenes at July 09, 2026 11:20 AM (2WIwB)

89 Pssst, dear methican americans,

There's almost two pounds of copper in a flock camera.

Posted by: rickb223 at July 09, 2026 11:20 AM (lGo+d)

90 83 >>- The database access isn't just limited to LE, anyone with a subscription license can search it. It isn't cheap either.

So. . . a hostile foreign government, a local antifa, etc., too?

Oh, come on! Our personal information is as safe as in its mother's arms when the government has it.

You know, unless China already got it.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 09, 2026 11:20 AM (Riz8t)

91 But what about the children? I have the sadz /s
Posted by: NALNAMSAM at July 09, 2026 11:18 AM (VkY89)
--------
The British children can piss right off.

Posted by: Washington at July 09, 2026 11:20 AM (amcLV)

92 74 My understanding is law enforcement needs a warrant to access any of the non government electronic information.

Flock cameras are 'government' electronic info.
Posted by: polynikes

No, they don't. Flock cameras are run by a third party and police subscribe to that service as a customer and thus can access it. Under the 4th Katz ruling, if you are in public, then you have a much lessened expectation of privacy. Those justices never contemplated today's technology where computers rather than cops can follow you around 24-7 without coffee breaks, overtime, etc.

Same with cops subscribing to other commercial databases to find out all they can about you including social media.

Telecom usually requires a subpoena which is NOT a warrant, simply a formalized request by the police to the telcom company for geolocation, text message content, and pen register of calls made and received. Ditto for email and banking information.

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 11:21 AM (E4rtv)

93 Officials in Houston TX are PANICKING...

I hate headlines like this. Overstated BS.
Posted by: Diogenes at July 09, 2026 11:20 AM (2WIwB)

We voted away red light cameras.

Posted by: polynikes at July 09, 2026 11:21 AM (/WQyy)

94 No Flocks in my immediate vicinity on the roads I travel most often. Many outside my immediate vicinity, though.

Posted by: one hour sober at July 09, 2026 11:22 AM (J4Dwc)

95 But what about the children? I have the sadz /s

I believe the current internet style guide is "it hurts my heart."

Posted by: Oddbob at July 09, 2026 11:22 AM (vTZFs)

96 Access to Flock or other surveillance systems is, or should be considered a search requiring a warrant.

If it isn't already.

And who want's to bet there are hardly any warrants for the searches being performed?

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 09, 2026 11:22 AM (jehhT)

97 We need a few cases of Flock getting the sh*t sued outta them and a few cops losing qualified immunity.
Posted by: Oddbob

They should end qualified immunity anyway.

Force cops to have to INDIVIDUALLY carry liability insurance. Same as other professionals.

Too many claims and the insurance company will drop them. No insurance, no work. No ability to change departments.

Most cops go through their entire careers without being sued for civil rights violations.

Those that are legitimately sued? There's no reason the city/citizens should have to pay for it.

And maybe, just maybe, it'll force cities and counties to hire qualified individuals.

Posted by: rickb223 at July 09, 2026 11:22 AM (lGo+d)

98 93 Officials in Houston TX are PANICKING...

I hate headlines like this. Overstated BS.

very typical for X "influencer" whatever guy Matt Van Swol.

don't like that account. cannot be real. also the Mila Joy or whatever one. seem very fake.

Posted by: Black Orchid (j+aD2) at July 09, 2026 11:23 AM (j+aD2)

99 And nothing has done more abuse to the 4th Amendment than their personal animosity toward the freedom of motorists.
It's not too far a stretch to read their opinions with an air of "well of course the police should be able to stop anyone anywhere in any car for any reason--the police are angels doing the Lord's work against those evil-doers who dare think they can drive on our roads."
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice

You pretty much sumarized Carroll v. US. Brave AI summary as I am lazy today,
"Carroll v. United States, 267 U.S. 132 (1925), is a landmark Supreme Court decision that established the automobile exception to the Fourth Amendment’s warrant requirement. The Court held that law enforcement officers may conduct a warrantless search of a vehicle if they have probable cause to believe it contains contraband or evidence of a crime.

The ruling centered on the inherent mobility of automobiles, which creates exigent circumstances making it impractical to secure a warrant before the vehicle can be moved out of the jurisdiction. "

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 11:23 AM (E4rtv)

100 If any of your devices are wireless, these signals can be pulled out of the air. No warrant necessary.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at July 09, 2026 11:23 AM (fkjGs)

101 But what about the children? I have the sadz /s

I believe the current internet style guide is "it hurts my heart."

No, it's "my heart is seized with a monotonous languor."

Posted by: Archimedes at July 09, 2026 11:23 AM (Riz8t)

102 Under the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling Riley v. California, officers cannot access the digital contents of your device simply because you are arrested. A warrant signed by a judge is required to scroll through apps, texts, or call logs.

Posted by: polynikes at July 09, 2026 11:23 AM (/WQyy)

103 I have long argued there are 3 things that are more powerful against the state and advance freedom more than any constitution:
1) advances in private weaponry
2) advanced in private transportation
3) new lands

Because they allow:
1) fight the state on equal footing
2) evade the state
3) avoid the state

So you can see why these statist hate guns and hate cars with such passion and conspire endlessly to destroy any advances or uses of either.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at July 09, 2026 11:24 AM (3cUTc)

104 No Flocks in my immediate vicinity on the roads I travel most often. Many outside my immediate vicinity, though.
Posted by: one hour sober at July 09, 2026 11:22 AM (J4Dwc)
___

Gotta drive at least 30 minutes before you hit one in my AO.

Posted by: SMH at God's mercy at July 09, 2026 11:25 AM (ge8nq)

105 Love how the deflock.org site - that wants to give you visibility into how you're tracked....

...has tracking cookies on it...and won't load the map if you block them.

Posted by: Defenestratus at July 09, 2026 11:25 AM (WYStd)

106 Fuckin' Jeremy fuckin' Bentham.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice
__________

Isn't his body preserved as a mummy somewhere? Or is that JS Mill?

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at July 09, 2026 11:26 AM (XvL8K)

107 Well I have feelings about Facebook etc that go way back. Putting your life online and tying it your identity was DUMB DUMB DUMB from the start.

And we had had long enough on the internet (about a decade) for everyone to know it.

Posted by: ... at July 09, 2026 11:26 AM (LCr8f)

108 The government parses our rights to diminish their impact on its fanatical desire to know everything about us, but routine surveillance without a court order seems to be a clear violation of our right to be safe from government observation.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 09, 2026 11:04 AM (Riz8t)

Counterpoint - Nearly 100% of the time, while driving, you're on a government road.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider: Gotterdammerung at July 09, 2026 11:26 AM (xA5g+)

109 The inside of your house can be mapped in 3D with bluetooth.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at July 09, 2026 11:26 AM (fkjGs)

110 109 The inside of your house can be mapped in 3D with bluetooth.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at July 09, 2026 11:26 AM (fkjGs)

I'm still not tidying up.

Let 'em look.

Posted by: Warai-otoko at July 09, 2026 11:27 AM (Ot/FD)

111 There was an issue I think on GatewayPundit where surveillance systems were being used in an urban area but were turned off for....telling the truth about the perps.

Posted by: Stateless - He ain't heavy, he's my dog at July 09, 2026 11:05 AM (Sco7b)

Shot Spotter.

It used microphones throughout an area to immediately triangulate the exact location of a gunshot.

It saved hundreds of lives in Chicago because people wouldn't call 911 in the 'hood, but the squad could still get there and render aid to a person who would have otherwise died.

So Mayor Johnson banned it for being racist.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider: Gotterdammerung at July 09, 2026 11:27 AM (xA5g+)

112 Those cameras aren't going anywhere. After they cement power by packing SCOTUS with four new DEI monsters, the Democrat-Communists will need those cameras to keep the population under wraps. "Those Gulags aren't going to fill themselves," they'll laughingly say.

Posted by: Our Incredibly Obvious Future at July 09, 2026 11:28 AM (qUkBO)

113 Those that are legitimately sued? There's no reason the city/citizens should have to pay for it.

And maybe, just maybe, it'll force cities and counties to hire qualified individuals.
Posted by: rickb223
=====
I agree. First, no non-cop should be able to claim qualified immunity and that means bureaucrats. Rehnquist court in a mistake, created the qualified immunity standard from whole cloth in order to stop endless lawsuits on cops but it created almost absolute immunity instead for all bureaucrats. Distorted version of the Scotus ruling in Dalehite v. United States (1953) (Texas City ship explosion), where Scotus ruled that the Federal Tort Claims Act did not override US Sovereign immunity (federal inspector of the fertilizer that caused the explosion in Texas City harbor was sued.)

In reality, it appears the extremely hot weather liquified a lot of the ammonium nitrate and the delays in loading and shipping probably caused the disaster rather than the inspector.

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 11:28 AM (E4rtv)

114 And that data are collected

splitting the difference between the "is 'data' plural?" options?

Posted by: anachronda at July 09, 2026 11:30 AM (v3pYe)

115 It can be lunch time

Posted by: Skip at July 09, 2026 11:30 AM (sgkY8)

116 there are 3 things that are more powerful against the state and advance freedom more than any constitution:
1) advances in private weaponry
2) advanced in private transportation
3) vast tracts of land.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at July 09, 2026 11:31 AM (Kt19C)

117 Isn't his body preserved as a mummy somewhere? Or is that JS Mill?
Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at July 09, 2026 11:26 AM (XvL8K)

It was Bentham. JS Mill was "the most censorious of Liberals" per Ralph Raico

Posted by: Kindltot at July 09, 2026 11:32 AM (rbvCR)

118 >>Well I have feelings about Facebook etc that go way back. Putting your life online and tying it your identity was DUMB DUMB DUMB from the start.

Ah, but you don't even have to sign up.
Years ago I read that facebook created an app building template/toolkit, to streamline creation of apps (ensures compatibility, etc.). Buried in the baseline code was permission to share the user's data with facebook.

Posted by: Lizzy at July 09, 2026 11:33 AM (X8xt3)

119 None of these devices in my suburban area or on my regular routes - although there are a few in the next town over in some of the busier parts of town, like around the mall. (yes, our mall is still busy and still packed, I know - crazy)

Posted by: Defenestratus at July 09, 2026 11:33 AM (WYStd)

120 IIRC, the UK has had extensive CCV camera surveillance and what has that gotten them?

Has this stopped terrorism, acid attacks, child rape, beheadings?

They can watch, but does this affect the will to do old fashioned police *action*?
---
The cameras are not there to protect the people.
They are there to increase the power of the state.

I saw a camping video on YT, where just after this fellow set up camp in the UK, a police drone appeared, hovered and over the speaker told him to leave.
It hovered there until he left.
That's not protecting the public, that's making sure the public knows who is in charge.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at July 09, 2026 11:33 AM (3cUTc)

121 What do we want? DeFlocking! When do we want it? Now!

What do we want? DeFlocking! When...

Posted by: Dirty Old Hippie Boomer Who Loves A Good Chant at July 09, 2026 11:33 AM (F1rMs)

122 And that data are collected

splitting the difference between the "is 'data' plural?" options?

I started to comment on that but couldn't decide which part I wanted to comment on, the 'that' or the 'are.' For the record, yes, 'data' is a plural noun. The singular form is 'datum.'

-- Not Wesley

Posted by: Oddbob at July 09, 2026 11:34 AM (vTZFs)

123 102 Under the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling Riley v. California, officers cannot access the digital contents of your device simply because you are arrested. A warrant signed by a judge is required to scroll through apps, texts, or call logs.
Posted by: polynikes
========
That applies to the device that they hold in their hand, they can get an administrative subpoena directly to the telcom provider and get that directly from the telcom industry except for the apps loaded perhaps. Riley was not as a big of a decision that Roberts, the poser he is, claimed in his ruling.

Read Smith v. Maryland (1979) which regards what the cops can get by administrative subpoena from your telcom and understand that under the third person doctrine, your banking records, call records, texts, emails, the websites you visit,commercial purchases, do not require warrants for third parties to hand over to the cops. They do require warrants if the cops come and seize your own equipment. So they bootstrap the subpoena information into a warrant application. And voila, probable cause.

Scotus is mainly doing whack a mole on particular applications but avoiding the nasty question of technology.

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 11:34 AM (E4rtv)

124 Thx CBD.
All of the data is known by most companies and the government. The government seems too stupid to use it properly against fraud or general criminal behavior. Maybe AI will make it easier to soft through the data properly
Do I like that government has everything about everyone.? No, but in general at the moment they are too incompetent to do the things that make us properly paranoid

Posted by: Smell the Glove at July 09, 2026 11:34 AM (m2wmY)

125 114 And that data are collected

splitting the difference between the "is 'data' plural?" options?
Posted by: anachronda at July 09, 2026 11:30 AM
++++
I'm always amused by the person who insists on pronouncing it "dater."

I want to respond with "I just met her!"

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at July 09, 2026 11:34 AM (2Ez/1)

126 Ah, but you don't even have to sign up.
Years ago I read that facebook created an app building template/toolkit, to streamline creation of apps (ensures compatibility, etc.). Buried in the baseline code was permission to share the user's data with facebook.
Posted by: Lizzy at July 09, 2026 11:33 AM (X8xt3)

Facebook collects data on you even if you don't have a FB account. Any site that has a Facebook "like" button on it, is tracking you. You can block it pretty easily though with browsers like Brave or Chrome extensions.

Posted by: Defenestratus at July 09, 2026 11:34 AM (WYStd)

127 3) vast tracts of land.

The exact quote is "huge...tracts of land". Some of us take our Monty Python seriously.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 09, 2026 11:34 AM (Riz8t)

128 109 The inside of your house can be mapped in 3D with bluetooth.

hmm... *scribbles note* build panic room in a klein bottle

Posted by: anachronda at July 09, 2026 11:34 AM (v3pYe)

129 The cameras are not there to protect the people.
They are there to increase the power of the state.

I saw a camping video on YT, where just after this fellow set up camp in the UK, a police drone appeared, hovered and over the speaker told him to leave.
It hovered there until he left.
That's not protecting the public, that's making sure the public knows who is in charge.
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice
=======
Pretty much and the enforcement burden fall inevitably on the law abiding rather than the special law breaking pets of the politicians like illegals or street people. Cops ignore those.

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 11:35 AM (E4rtv)

130 127 The exact quote is "huge...tracts of land". Some of us take our Monty Python seriously.

mind you, people that take monty python seriously can be pretty nasti

Posted by: anachronda at July 09, 2026 11:35 AM (v3pYe)

131 there are 3 things that are more powerful against the state and advance freedom more than any constitution:
1) advances in private weaponry
2) advanced in private transportation
3) vast tracts of land.
Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats
__________

3 is by far the most important. Property rights are the key. If the citizens have ownership and property rights are respected, the government has to get their consent to raise revenue.

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at July 09, 2026 11:36 AM (XvL8K)

132 I get junk calls and texts all the f'n time. Sometimes I wonder if it's just an effort by some entity to keep track of me via cell phone tower data...after all, Big Brother can "ask" Google and cell phone companies for phone logs and other related records...

::: takes off tin foil hat :::

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at July 09, 2026 11:36 AM (l3cgK)

133 Scotus is mainly doing whack a mole on particular applications but avoiding the nasty question of technology.

One almost gets the sense they are completely lacking in the tools necessary to understand and anticipate the effects of technology-related rulings.

I'm quite sure KBJ is baffled by 2 cans and a string.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 09, 2026 11:36 AM (Riz8t)

134 Not quite the way I remember it.

Sarah Longwell
@SarahLongwell25
Graham Platner was accused of rape and every Democrat tossed him overboard.
Donald Trump was accused of rape multiple times and sexual assault and harassment many more times. Also the whole matter of trying to overturn an election.
Republicans nominated him a second time.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 11:37 AM (ndZc7)

135 FWIW, seen on X that they also capture, then track people via their electronics (phone) and Bluetooth devices. Next level tracking when you're not in your car.
Posted by: Lizzy

Yeah, I read they're tracking your phone in your car. Also, reading the data the car itself is sending. Yay.

Faraday bags for the phone. Dumb cars. Facial-recognition foiling sunglasses and masks. Just to go to the store.

Posted by: mindful webworker - barely started on the day at July 09, 2026 11:37 AM (9rU9k)

136 Reminder:
No matter how much the Karens and the state claimed it, red light cameras do not reduce traffic accidents.

For the slight reduction in t-bone collisions, they significantly increase rear-end collisions.

Because the claimed reason for the cameras was always a lie.

The real reason was--and this is always the reason the state installs cameras--and is to increase government revenue.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at July 09, 2026 11:38 AM (3cUTc)

137 >mind you, people that take monty python seriously can be pretty nasti
Posted by: anachronda at July 09, 2026 11:35 AM
----
How do you know she's a witch?

Posted by: One of those people at July 09, 2026 11:38 AM (2Ez/1)

138
(yes, our mall is still busy and still packed, I know - crazy)
Posted by: Defenestratus

But does it have vibrant diversity?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at July 09, 2026 11:38 AM (Cqx++)

139 Main news not real lated to Platner. Two people were injured and another trapped in a car after the car they were in collided with a moose. No info on moose health

Posted by: Smell the Glove at July 09, 2026 11:38 AM (m2wmY)

140 I believe The U.S. Supreme Court also affirmed that individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their location data, meaning police must obtain a warrant based on probable cause to access it.

I don't know the name of that case so can't confirm it .

Posted by: polynikes at July 09, 2026 11:38 AM (/WQyy)

141 The Pa Turnpike uses this system, with stations ecvery few miles. 1 trip might have 2 or more milage bills

Posted by: Skip at July 09, 2026 11:38 AM (sgkY8)

142 The government parses our rights to diminish their impact on its fanatical desire to know everything about us, but routine surveillance without a court order seems to be a clear violation of our right to be safe from government observation.

The Gov't wants to know everything about us while hiding all the nefarious things they're doing. They've got it entirely backwards; WE the PEOPLE are to be secure in our persons and protections and Gov't is supposed to be open.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at July 09, 2026 11:39 AM (l3cgK)

143 No, but in general at the moment they are too incompetent to do the things that make us properly paranoid
Posted by: Smell the Glove
=======
Don't count on that. Right now, the tools are there but the individuals being oppressed either a) don't know why or how they got picked out of the crowd for official police attention, or b) criminals who we don't care much about. Piss off a local, state, or federal politician and often people find they get strange new attention from the cops.

Ditto for pissing off an individual cop, then the blue badge gang decides to 'defend' their brethren. And so on.

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 11:39 AM (E4rtv)

144 Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 11:37 AM (ndZc7)

They conveniently leave out the part about how Graham Platner was going to lose. I mean, everything they say is bullshit anyway but it's worth pointing out.

Clinton and Biden were both rapists and Biden was a pedo. They're such silly little liars.

Posted by: ... at July 09, 2026 11:39 AM (LCr8f)

145 I always look up at the WallyMart self checkout camera and make a goofy face.
Because why not?

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at July 09, 2026 11:40 AM (2Ez/1)

146 139 Main news not real lated to Platner. Two people were injured and another trapped in a car after the car they were in collided with a moose. No info on moose health
Posted by: Smell the Glove at July 09, 2026 11:38 AM (m2wmY)

Again?

Posted by: Rocket J. Squirrel at July 09, 2026 11:40 AM (nHXB4)

147 The Gov't wants to know everything about us while hiding all the nefarious things they're doing. They've got it entirely backwards; WE the PEOPLE are to be secure in our persons and protections and Gov't is supposed to be open.

Nonsense. If that were true, the Congress would have a secret slush fund to pay off people suing Congressmen for sexual misconduct. It is to laugh.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 09, 2026 11:40 AM (Riz8t)

148 140 I believe The U.S. Supreme Court also affirmed that individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their location data, meaning police must obtain a warrant based on probable cause to access it.

I don't know the name of that case so can't confirm it .

Posted by: polynikes at July 09, 2026 11:38 AM (/WQyy)

That may stop police, but it certainly doesn't stop various Gov't agencies who really don't give a damn. I mean, if those in Gov't agencies were willing to lie, cheat, steal to get what they wanted, even lying to courts (FISA and otherwise), who's to say?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at July 09, 2026 11:40 AM (l3cgK)

149 The surveillance is in place to watch the law abiding.

Posted by: ... at July 09, 2026 11:40 AM (LCr8f)

150 Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 11:37 AM (ndZc7)

Accurate history is not the Left's strong point.

Posted by: polynikes at July 09, 2026 11:41 AM (/WQyy)

151 Many of you Commentators on this Thread are exhibiting a level of mature cynicism inconsistent with your tender under-29 years of existence.

In other news, I just completed stringing chicken wire above the garden container of one of my vegetables.

I'm thinking of putting up a sign reading "This is the awning of the cage of asparagus."

Posted by: Duncanthrax at July 09, 2026 11:41 AM (0sNs1)

152 I believe The U.S. Supreme Court also affirmed that individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their location data, meaning police must obtain a warrant based on probable cause to access it.

I don't know the name of that case so can't confirm it .

Posted by: polynikes at July 09, 2026 11:38 AM (/WQyy)

This happened just recently.

A bank was robbed. Police had no suspects, so they hoovered up every cell phone in the area for a 60 minute period, and started culling known innocents. They ended up with three possible suspects and arrested one of them.

SCOTUS said 'nope. That's not okay.'

Posted by: Washington Nearsider: Gotterdammerung at July 09, 2026 11:41 AM (xA5g+)

153 Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at July 09, 2026 11:40 AM (l3cgK)

I don't disagree that's the exposure.

Posted by: polynikes at July 09, 2026 11:41 AM (/WQyy)

154 139 Main news not real lated to Platner. Two people were injured and another trapped in a car after the car they were in collided with a moose. No info on moose health
Posted by: Smell the Glove
####
Police suspect fair play.

Posted by: The ghost of Dennis Miller at July 09, 2026 11:41 AM (2Ez/1)

155 No info on moose health
Posted by: Smell the Glove at July 09, 2026 11:38 AM (m2wmY)

I imagine it has seen better days.

Posted by: Robert at July 09, 2026 11:41 AM (dpXJq)

156 Alternative Headline: "Flock Off!"

Posted by: ShainS -- Tricentennial or Bust! at July 09, 2026 11:42 AM (udqLL)

157 “The establishment framed me [the Nazi rapist] for rape because I support Medicare For All” is maybe the craziest thing this guy’s said yet.

-
Now that's Colbert's gone, maybe he can take over a late night comedy slot.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 11:42 AM (ndZc7)

158 >>The exact quote is "huge...tracts of land". Some of us take our Monty Python seriously.

Long ago, Michael Palin did a radio promo for a local station and described a female DJ as having 'a lovely personality, and huge...tracts of land'.

Posted by: Nazdar at July 09, 2026 11:43 AM (NcvvS)

159 Clinton and Biden were both rapists and Biden was a pedo. They're such silly little liars.
Posted by: ... at July 09, 2026 11:39 AM
++++++++

Better put some ice on that.

Posted by: Monica Lewinsky's ex-boyfriend at July 09, 2026 11:43 AM (2Ez/1)

160 Main news not real lated to Platner. Two people were injured and another trapped in a car after the car they were in collided with a moose. No info on moose health
Posted by: Smell the Glove

Moose is Canadian with no visa and doesn't speak English.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 11:43 AM (ndZc7)

161 And thought how someone could scam those sensors, not that I would, but guess if they are looking more than just a licensed plate a biy harder

Posted by: Skip at July 09, 2026 11:43 AM (sgkY8)

162 This happened just recently.

A bank was robbed. Police had no suspects, so they hoovered up every cell phone in the area for a 60 minute period, and started culling known innocents. They ended up with three possible suspects and arrested one of them.

SCOTUS said 'nope. That's not okay.'

Posted by: Washington Nearsider: Gotterdammerung at July 09, 2026 11:41 AM (xA5g+)

---------------

J6 Grandmas Hardest Hit ...

Posted by: ShainS -- Tricentennial or Bust! at July 09, 2026 11:43 AM (udqLL)

163 Facial recognition and thumb print recognition are used for everything from payroll to signing onto your smartphone to signing onto your notebook and gaining access to you amazon account. AI has a complete map of your uniqueness. GPS and CCV are a tracking mechanism. You've been made.
--
My favorite disturbing fact that no one wants to talk about is:
Even if you don't have any social media, every social media company still has an almost full profile on you.

X333fkj, who was with these known users at this place at this time. Who buys this and that at this and that online store. Who is related to these known users. Who lives at or near this address. Who is about this age.
And on and on.
Which all lives forever.
And can be subpoenaed by the state if they need it.
But don't worry:
Republicans are hard at work ... making sure teens don't view porn.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at July 09, 2026 11:44 AM (3cUTc)

164 I checked that website and turns out there are about 20 of these things in my small city. That’s a little disturbing.

Posted by: Facts at July 09, 2026 11:44 AM (ehU09)

165 How about a drone that sprays paint on the camera?
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at July 09, 2026 11:05 AM (Cqx++)

That would work. Spray he solar panel, too, if it is powered by one.
Paintball guns, too.

If caught, demand a jury trial.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 09, 2026 11:44 AM (1z8ji)

166 140 I believe The U.S. Supreme Court also affirmed that individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their location data, meaning police must obtain a warrant based on probable cause to access it.

Posted by: polynikes

No, they just released a decision that requires fencing an area and going through all the cell phone data within a geolocated area requires a warrant. Goes to the specificity of the claim.

Basically telcoms (or any other business), as a third party, can hand over your data because it is no longer 'private' under Supreme Court rulings. Same as sharing spoken intentions of a crime with a third person, you cannot bar the third person (with some rare exceptions) from telling the cops about it. Same goes for billing information, geolocation data, even what tv programs you watch, and so on--if you share information with a company of any sort, then it can be obtained by a subpoena, not a warrant.

You can try to quash the subpoena information in court but the police have already got the information. Usually, you get no notification of a subpoena until and unless you get charged. Less in nat sec cases.

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 11:44 AM (E4rtv)

167 161 And thought how someone could scam those sensors, not that I would, but guess if they are looking more than just a licensed plate a biy harder

Posted by: Skip at July 09, 2026 11:43 AM (sgkY

It's also (I've heard) very easy to eavesdrop on what's going on in your care via the bluetooth you use to hook your cell phone to your car...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at July 09, 2026 11:45 AM (l3cgK)

168 Didn't say you had to. But if you want to make your argument like they are , that's intellectually dishonest.
Posted by: polynikes at July 09, 2026 11:18 AM (/WQyy)

I just find anyone that can take the home I work and pay for away because they don't like how I mow my lawn communist.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 11:45 AM (2YhKe)

169 If any of your devices are wireless, these signals can be pulled out of the air. No warrant necessary.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone
------

This is about me, isn't it?

Posted by: Alexis at July 09, 2026 11:45 AM (XeU6L)

170 J6 Grandmas Hardest Hit ...

Posted by: ShainS -- Tricentennial or Bust! at July 09, 2026 11:43 AM (udqLL)

Yup.

But the precedent has now been set.

The Supreme Court freed a black man who was only arrested because his cell phone was geographically collocated with a crime. The left can't argue against that decision.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider: Gotterdammerung at July 09, 2026 11:45 AM (xA5g+)

171 This is surveillance in the absence of probable cause

This would be an interesting argument if, in fact, your opinion mattered. But you did not elect us. We tell you that you elected us, and you buy it.

Posted by: The Brown Eye In The Sky at July 09, 2026 11:46 AM (wn0/z)

172 Moose is Canadian with no visa and doesn't speak English.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 11:43 AM (ndZc7)

------------

The Carney PM out front should have told you ...

Posted by: ShainS -- Tricentennial or Bust! at July 09, 2026 11:47 AM (udqLL)

173 The Pa Turnpike uses this system, with stations ecvery few miles. 1 trip might have 2 or more milage bills
Posted by: Skip at July 09, 2026 11:38 AM

The toll road around Austin will cost you around $50 if you don't have a toll tag.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 11:47 AM (2YhKe)

174 162 This happened just recently.

A bank was robbed. Police had no suspects, so they hoovered up every cell phone in the area for a 60 minute period, and started culling known innocents. They ended up with three possible suspects and arrested one of them.

SCOTUS said 'nope. That's not okay.'

Posted by: Washington Nearsider

Called geofencing warrants and based on law where the police blocked off an area after a robbery and prevented people from leaving without being checked to determine if they were the robber. NYC used a variant where computer hotspots were targeted and the people around those stopped, frisked, and arrested for any drugs or firearms present (see Terry stop for rationale).

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 11:47 AM (E4rtv)

175 (see Terry stop for rationale).

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 11:47 AM (E4rtv)

I'd hoped you would be along to clarify.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider: Gotterdammerung at July 09, 2026 11:48 AM (xA5g+)

176 I signed up for the Costco app. One of the verification questions it asked me was what color was a certain car I owned about 20 years ago.

I was like how in the fuck did Costco know this? I doubt dmv records are kept that far back. Or if they are why does Costco have access to that data? Could it have used some social media info or a photo I took or something. It really shocked me.

Posted by: Facts at July 09, 2026 11:49 AM (ehU09)

177 Two people were injured and another trapped in a car after the car they were in collided with a moose.

Knew a guy in college that was from Alaska. He got pulled over for doing 70. Apparently the conversation went like this:

"Son, do you know that if you hit a moose at 70 you'd be dead?"

"Officer, if I hit a moose at 55, I'd be dead."

Posted by: NR Pax at July 09, 2026 11:50 AM (/k3in)

178 Posted by: Washington Nearsider: Gotterdammerung at July 09, 2026 11:45 AM (xA5g+)

Yes this type of fishing is done without probable cause which is unconstitutional imo.

Posted by: polynikes at July 09, 2026 11:50 AM (/WQyy)

179 173 Toll roads, and particularly toll booths, really suck.

Santino Corleone

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at July 09, 2026 11:50 AM (gm9Sb)

180 Maybe this is covered by the penumbra and emanations of the right to privacy.

If Griswold vs Conn can Devine the right to purchase contraceptives maybe there is a basic right for the government to not spy on us.

Posted by: Minuteman at July 09, 2026 11:50 AM (47/pr)

181 169 If any of your devices are wireless, these signals can be pulled out of the air. No warrant necessary.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone
======
End to end encryption generally makes that worthless for cops but not always. What is crueler is the frequent use of Stinger fake cell phone towers to bulk intercept data by cops. Often, cops drop a case whenever that comes up as a source of data due to nat sec protections demanded by the company providing the data to the cops.

Cops view their job as catching criminals, not protecting your rights in general. You have to act to protect and safeguard your own because government officials sure as hell are not going to do that. Including judges.

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 11:50 AM (E4rtv)

182 Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 11:44 AM (E4rtv)

Why, no matter how genuinely intellectually curious I get about some things, I will never ever conduct a web search of any kind even tangentially related to them.

Hell that time I ended up in a rabbit hole about the Holocaust being a made up plot by the Royal Family to give Jews unlimited made me feel dirty as it was. And I'm not even referring to stuff like that. I'm not kidding I think that shit was exactly two clicks away from here, maybe three.

Posted by: ... at July 09, 2026 11:51 AM (LCr8f)

183 But the precedent has now been set.

The Supreme Court freed a black man who was only arrested because his cell phone was geographically collocated with a crime. The left can't argue against that decision.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider: Gotterdammerung at July 09, 2026 11:45 AM (xA5g+)

--------------

Thanks for that info, WN -- was unaware of that.

And why I still come here for "all the news that's fit to glint ..."

Posted by: ShainS -- Tricentennial or Bust! at July 09, 2026 11:51 AM (udqLL)

184 The U.S. Supreme Court also affirmed that individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their location data

Ah, good. We are permitted to be upset!

Posted by: t-bird at July 09, 2026 11:51 AM (aZ9eR)

185 In other news, I just completed stringing chicken wire above the garden container of one of my vegetables.

I'm thinking of putting up a sign reading "This is the awning of the cage of asparagus."
Posted by: Duncanthrax

Golf clap.

Posted by: rickb223 at July 09, 2026 11:51 AM (lGo+d)

186 More than one comment has been derailed by being informed that "the moose out front should have told you".

Posted by: Duncanthrax at July 09, 2026 11:52 AM (0sNs1)

187 Those AI data centers is where all that Flock will go.

Posted by: torabora at July 09, 2026 11:52 AM (KtOUo)

188 Not exactly a naturist here. I saw a dead moose in the road one time and was pretty surprised it took up an entire highway lane. Those things will fuck your shit up.

Posted by: ... at July 09, 2026 11:52 AM (LCr8f)

189 I wonder if they have a visa.

Taco Bell restaurants are pulling fresh ingredients from the menu as a fast-growing parasite outbreak linked to explosive diarrhea spreads across multiple states.

Locations, including some in Metro Detroit, have posted signs telling customers they are temporarily unable to serve several produce items while health officials respond to a spike in cyclosporiasis cases, WWJ reported on Tuesday.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 11:53 AM (ndZc7)

190 Ah, good. We are permitted to be upset!
Posted by: t-bird at July 09, 2026 11:51 AM (aZ9eR

And law enforcement is required to get a warrant.

Posted by: polynikes at July 09, 2026 11:53 AM (/WQyy)

191 Toll roads, and particularly toll booths, really suck.

Santino Corleone
Posted by: bill in arkansas

That's the reason I don't stop at toll booths. I saw that movie.

Posted by: rickb223 at July 09, 2026 11:53 AM (lGo+d)

192 Of course the cameras are not freely available to the public, but Nurse was looking pretty good this morning on her way to work.

Posted by: Diogenes at July 09, 2026 11:53 AM (2WIwB)

193 I have nothing anybody wants, not even a pickle.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at July 09, 2026 11:54 AM (fkjGs)

194 Capital city of ultra progressive state. I'm surrounded by the fucking things.

Posted by: From about That Time at July 09, 2026 11:54 AM (sl73Y)

195 When I first tried to go onto the camera mapping, it spooled and then closed every open tab on my computer twice.

It finally settled down. The county has 169 cameras in view. (Flock safety 40; Axis Communications 6; IMotorola Soluations 4; Other 1, and 118 unknown.) In my area, they're primarily in the Wal-Marts, Targets, Home Depot, and Lowe's parking lots, and then dotted along major roads and highways.

They're much less likely in the very finest areas. But, again, I'm seeing the 'In View' category.

Agencies in VA, OH, TX, NC, CA, around Chicago, and a few others appear to have the most public cameras, but that's a small percentage. (Hidden is the great percentage.)

I wonder who the people are who do edits on the cameras? Some cameras may have one edit, others many.

Thanks.

Posted by: PBC 'survivor' at July 09, 2026 11:54 AM (NFX2v)

196 Taco Bell restaurants are pulling fresh ingredients from the menu as a fast-growing parasite outbreak linked to explosive diarrhea spreads across multiple states.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 11:53 AM (ndZc7)

I mean, Taco Bell, right?

Posted by: Robert at July 09, 2026 11:55 AM (dpXJq)

197 Counterpoint - Nearly 100% of the time, while driving, you're on a government road.
--
False.
It's my road, our road.

Our taxes paid for it.
Taxes the government confiscated from me.

I've said it before, can you imagine telling the Founders:
Well, you're going to need to register your horse with the county.
And pay an annual fee to the county for your horse.
On top of the tax you paid the county when you bought the horse.
And you will have to have your horse inspected every year to make sure it's safe to ride on the road.
And, of course you can't ride your horse on the road without a horse-rider's license.
The roads you paid your taxes to build and maintain.
And you have to renew that horse-riders license regularly and pay another fee to the county for that renewal.
And every bale of hay for your horse will have a special tax to pay for and maintain those road.
And because you're on the roads your taxes paid for, the police can stop you at any time for any reason and search you and your horse.
And you need to insure your horse in case you run into other horses.
and on and on...

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at July 09, 2026 11:56 AM (3cUTc)

198 It's lettuce and greens I believe. The proliferation of news that purposely doesn't report news is one of the real curses of the modern age.

Posted by: ... at July 09, 2026 11:56 AM (LCr8f)

199 Speaking of which . . .

Leftists waited until half the European Parliament was on vacation to pass a measure that allows private messages to be scanned without warrants

-
Well, Europe always has done fascism right.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 11:56 AM (ndZc7)

200 Taco Bell restaurants are pulling fresh ingredients from the menu as a fast-growing parasite outbreak linked to explosive diarrhea spreads across multiple states.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 11:53 AM (ndZc7

Typhoid Maria

Posted by: polynikes at July 09, 2026 11:56 AM (/WQyy)

201 I'd hoped you would be along to clarify.
Posted by: Washington Nearsider
========
Taught Criminal Procedure for years and ironically some of the cops (or wannabe law enforcement types) dropped the course because they thought I was anti cop and others dropped because they thought I was pro cop. All over in the first class telling students that they had to protect their own rights and not expect cops to do so.

Over the years, you end up collecting a lot of students asking for assistance and I kept a roster of lawyers (often former students) that I would direct them to for individualized legal counsel.

I also made sure they knew the State Constitutional law which in some cases, exceeds the federal protections of rights.

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 11:56 AM (E4rtv)

202 Counterpoint - Nearly 100% of the time, while driving, you're on a government road.
--

You didn't build that. Someone else made that happen.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 11:56 AM (2YhKe)

203 In other news, I just completed stringing chicken wire above the garden container of one of my vegetables.

I'm thinking of putting up a sign reading "This is the awning of the cage of asparagus."
Posted by: Duncanthrax

***

After a seafood lunch the other day, I saw the chef on the way out and asked if his cooking fork were the tines that fried men's soles?

Posted by: Diogenes at July 09, 2026 11:57 AM (2WIwB)

204 Thanks for the link to the map. I had no idea so many were installed during 2025.

Posted by: Al in St. Louis at July 09, 2026 11:57 AM (pKne7)

205 And these cameras serve no one but their masters. If you should need this footage for something private: say a hit and run in the neighborhood, good luck getting the footage.

Posted by: meh at July 09, 2026 11:57 AM (zZxsY)

206
I mean, Taco Bell, right?
Posted by: Robert at July 09, 2026 11:55 AM (dpXJq)

A known side effect since 1978.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 11:57 AM (2YhKe)

207 166 140 I believe The U.S. Supreme Court also affirmed that individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their location data, meaning police must obtain a warrant based on probable cause to access it.

Posted by: polynikes

No, they just released a decision that requires fencing an area and going through all the cell phone data within a geolocated area requires a warrant. Goes to the specificity of the claim.

Polinikes is correct as far as historical cell site location data goes. Carpenter v. United States (201

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at July 09, 2026 11:58 AM (lZt8q)

208 149 The surveillance is in place to watch the law abiding.

who flocks the flockers?

Posted by: anachronda at July 09, 2026 11:58 AM (v3pYe)

209 145 I always look up at the WallyMart self checkout camera and make a goofy face.
Because why not?
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at July 09, 2026 11:40 AM (2Ez/1)
==

I'm expecting a hefty bill from Safeway for all the "store provided" paper bags at self checkout that I've not paid for. Fuck the bag tax!

Posted by: J. Frank Parnell at July 09, 2026 11:58 AM (0bjKf)

210 173 The Pa Turnpike uses this system, with stations ecvery few miles. 1 trip might have 2 or more milage bills
Posted by: Skip at July 09, 2026 11:38 AM

The toll road around Austin will cost you around $50 if you don't have a toll tag.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 11:47 AM (2YhKe)

Oklahoma Turnpike does too. Within a few days of getting home I received the bill for my turnpike usage. They got my license plate, looked up the address info, and automatically billed me.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at July 09, 2026 11:58 AM (l3cgK)

211 Taco Bell restaurants are pulling fresh ingredients from the menu as a fast-growing parasite outbreak linked to explosive diarrhea spreads across multiple states.

"Lavate sus manos" signs have failed us.

Posted by: t-bird at July 09, 2026 11:59 AM (aZ9eR)

212 15 Without the flock cameras, I'm pretty sure the police would just use the doorbell cameras connected to the web.

I didn't expect that all-encompassing surveillance would come through private companies first, but it actually makes sense.
Posted by: Formerly Virginian

They're supposed to knock and ask in my area. They don't if it goes against their investigatory reports.

Posted by: PBC 'survivor' at July 09, 2026 11:59 AM (NFX2v)

213 209 145 I always look up at the WallyMart self checkout camera and make a goofy face.
Because why not?
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at July 09, 2026 11:40 AM (2Ez/1)
==

I'm expecting a hefty bill from Safeway for all the "store provided" paper bags at self checkout that I've not paid for. Fuck the bag tax!

Posted by: J. Frank Parnell at July 09, 2026 11:58 AM (0bjKf)

Are you in Kalifornia?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at July 09, 2026 11:59 AM (l3cgK)

214 I can't believe people eat at Taco Hell.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at July 09, 2026 12:00 PM (/THgZ)

215 False.
It's my road, our road.

Our taxes paid for it.
Taxes the government confiscated from me.

I've said it before, can you imagine telling the Founders:
Well, you're going to need to register your horse with the county.
And pay an annual fee to the county for your horse.
On top of the tax you paid the county when you bought the horse.
And you will have to have your horse inspected every year to make sure it's safe to ride on the road.
And, of course you can't ride your horse on the road without a horse-rider's license.
The roads you paid your taxes to build and maintain.
And you have to renew that horse-riders license regularly and pay another fee to the county for that renewal.
And every bale of hay for your horse will have a special tax to pay for and maintain those road.
And because you're on the roads your taxes paid for, the police can stop you at any time for any reason and search you and your horse.
And you need to insure your horse in case you run into other horses.
and on and on...

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at July 09, 2026 11:56 AM (3cUTc)

----------------

Then one day some White "African-American" named Elon will invent "the driverless horse ..."

Posted by: ShainS -- Tricentennial or Bust! at July 09, 2026 12:00 PM (udqLL)

216 187 Those AI data centers is where all that Flock will go.
Posted by: torabora

In your state and perhaps if you live in a mega city, around that city as well, there are Fusion Centers where state, local, and federal law enforcement can access commercial, local, state, and federal information to investigate and/or prevent crimes.

Sometimes this includes nat sec items like Stinger fake cell phone information, satellite imagery, etc. and these were designed way back in the 00 or late 90's to prevent terrorism in the US. Highly secretive and you will never really hear about these unless you have reason to know.

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 12:00 PM (E4rtv)

217 Brother James the Prophet speaks!

James Talarico says Islam and Christianity are basically the same thing. He also says opposing the mutilation of kids is "Christofascism."

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 12:00 PM (ndZc7)

218 Taco Bell restaurants are pulling fresh ingredients from the menu as a fast-growing parasite outbreak linked to explosive diarrhea spreads across multiple states.

So what's the difference between now and the past few decades? Taco Bell has a reputation for this problem.

Posted by: NR Pax at July 09, 2026 12:00 PM (/k3in)

219 Taco Bell restaurants are pulling fresh ingredients from the menu as a fast-growing parasite outbreak linked to explosive diarrhea spreads across multiple states.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 11:53 AM (ndZc7

The first case of a biological warfare attack in the US occurred in the Dalles Oregon in IIRC, 1970 when the state broke up the Baghwhan Rashneeshi and his cult in Oregon (to include his 21 rolls royces). One of his beyotches lace the salad bar with a germ agent.
I wonder if someone else is up to no good?

Posted by: Diogenes at July 09, 2026 12:00 PM (2WIwB)

220 193 I have nothing anybody wants, not even a pickle.

i don't want a pickle
i just want to ride my motorsickle
and i don't want to die
i just want to ride my motorcy-
cle

Posted by: the eternal wisdom of arlo guthrie at July 09, 2026 12:01 PM (v3pYe)

221 212 15 Without the flock cameras, I'm pretty sure the police would just use the doorbell cameras connected to the web.

I didn't expect that all-encompassing surveillance would come through private companies first, but it actually makes sense.
Posted by: Formerly Virginian

They're supposed to knock and ask in my area. They don't if it goes against their investigatory reports.

Posted by: PBC 'survivor' at July 09, 2026 11:59 AM (NFX2v)

Lots of video and stories of police coming to someones house and pushing or otherwise disabling the cameras so that what they do is not recorded. To me this is vandalism, as the courts have stated that a consensual visit has the same expectations from the police as if from anybody else, which means if you can charge someone manhandling and damaging your cameras for vandalism, you can also charge the police...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at July 09, 2026 12:01 PM (l3cgK)

222 213 Are you in Kalifornia?
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at July 09, 2026 11:59 AM (l3cgK)

Maryland. 10 cent bag tax in Baltimore County. For the children of course.

Posted by: J. Frank Parnell at July 09, 2026 12:01 PM (0bjKf)

223 If any of your devices are wireless, these signals can be pulled out of the air. No warrant necessary.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone
---------

I have had two unpleasant experiences in that regard. On a road trip I had my ham radio walkie-talkie lying on the seat of the car while driving, scanning sundry bands. This is common practice among hams. The intent is to make contact with other amateur operaters.

In theory, ham radios are blocked from receiving cell frequencies. Mine, purchased used, had been unblocked. I did not know this. Abruptly, I was listening to a very private, and painful, cell phone call. I could not switch it off fast enough. You may recall that Newt Gingrich had a private cell call intercepted in an overt monitoring of his calls.

My second unintentional experience was while tuning a receiver for use on the public service band for emergency purposes. Suddenly, I was listening to a private conversation. It took me a moment to realize that it was apparently nearby neighbors, and I was picking up their baby monitor. Again, I couldn't kill the coms quickly enough to be comfortable.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at July 09, 2026 12:01 PM (XeU6L)

224 219 The first case of a biological warfare attack in the US occurred in the Dalles Oregon in IIRC, 1970 when the state broke up the Baghwhan Rashneeshi and his cult in Oregon (to include his 21 rolls royces). One of his beyotches lace the salad bar with a germ agent.
I wonder if someone else is up to no good?

can i interest you in some sushi?

Posted by: putin at July 09, 2026 12:02 PM (v3pYe)

225 Too right guv!!!

I for one, knew it was the beginning of the end when they put up the cursed gas street lights!! Cursed light!

Posted by: Spring heeled jack at July 09, 2026 12:02 PM (anL5R)

226 212 15 Without the flock cameras, I'm pretty sure the police would just use the doorbell cameras connected to the web.

I didn't expect that all-encompassing surveillance would come through private companies first, but it actually makes sense.
Posted by: Formerly Virginian
========
They do that with Ring and the Google version of that, you can voluntarily opt in to share that data with cops.

I use a different camera system and keep my information off the cloud as well.

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 12:02 PM (E4rtv)

227 Seattle has a ton of Flock cameras.

They were on during the eurofag kickball tournament, but have all been switched off now because mayor Katie didn’t want them
To be used to identify and track illegals. Oh, and women fleeing red states to get abortions.

Posted by: nurse ratched. at July 09, 2026 12:02 PM (XA4WA)

228 I can't believe people eat at Taco Hell.
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at July 09, 2026 12:00 PM (/THgZ)

It used to actually be edible. Not anymore.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 12:02 PM (2YhKe)

229 219 Taco Bell restaurants are pulling fresh ingredients from the menu as a fast-growing parasite outbreak linked to explosive diarrhea spreads across multiple states.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 11:53 AM (ndZc7

The first case of a biological warfare attack in the US occurred in the Dalles Oregon in IIRC, 1970 when the state broke up the Baghwhan Rashneeshi and his cult in Oregon (to include his 21 rolls royces). One of his beyotches lace the salad bar with a germ agent.
I wonder if someone else is up to no good?

Posted by: Diogenes at July 09, 2026 12:00 PM (2WIwB)

Yeah, it was DEFINITELY NOT what we did in the Bay area in 1950...

Posted by: CIA at July 09, 2026 12:03 PM (l3cgK)

230 I saw Explosive Diarrhea open for Springsteen at the Outhouse in '75.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 12:03 PM (ndZc7)

231 James Talarico says Islam and Christianity are basically the same thing. He also says opposing the mutilation of kids is "Christofascism."

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 12:00 PM (ndZc7)

Which means he supports the clitorectomies performed all over the Islamic world.

Mulitating kids is okay, right, James?

Posted by: Washington Nearsider: Gotterdammerung at July 09, 2026 12:03 PM (xA5g+)

232 >>I saw a dead moose in the road one time and was pretty surprised it took up an entire highway lane.

Had a gig in Anchorage a while back - one of the guys told me a moose is 'two thousand pounds of stupid'.

Posted by: Nazdar at July 09, 2026 12:03 PM (NcvvS)

233 In other news, I just completed stringing chicken wire above the garden container of one of my vegetables.

I'm thinking of putting up a sign reading "This is the awning of the cage of asparagus."
Posted by: Duncanthrax

***

After a seafood lunch the other day, I saw the chef on the way out and asked if his cooking fork were the tines that fried men's soles?
Posted by: Diogenes at July 09, 2026 11:57 AM (2WIwB)

That goes for his Sou Chefs , Kate and Edith too.

Posted by: polynikes at July 09, 2026 12:04 PM (/WQyy)

234 Why is it that Mexican joints (Taco Bell, Chipotle) seem to have more food-poisoning issues than other places?

Posted by: Bulg at July 09, 2026 12:04 PM (77rzZ)

235 Talarico is an op. He's just throwing blasphemy out there. They want the "religious nutbag" to flip out.

Just my take.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at July 09, 2026 12:04 PM (/THgZ)

236 The problem is that the younger generations not only don't care about government and private surveillance, they support more of it. Some truly scary polls from Gen Z showing a shocking number of them -- something like 30% -- support the government installing cameras in private homes to "stop crime."

Posted by: Elric The Blade at July 09, 2026 12:04 PM (iFTx/)

237 James Talarico says Islam and Christianity are basically the same thing. He also says opposing the mutilation of kids is "Christofascism."

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 12:00 PM (ndZc7)

He also hired the broad that carried the "Cocks not Glocks" torch to his campaign.

THAT'LL fly well in Texas.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 12:04 PM (2YhKe)

238 Faraday bags for the phone. Dumb cars. Facial-recognition foiling sunglasses and masks. Just to go to the store.

And all for naught if you pay with a card.

Posted by: Oddbob at July 09, 2026 12:04 PM (0BXQc)

239 The towns tape the commissioner's, school board, code enforcement meetings within reason.

Normal, "Get lost, your time is up" or "Oh, yeah we like that. Approved." are filmed.

Ruffle feathers too much and filming selectively ceases. Firm warnings to bring an attorney in the future may be given, too.

Posted by: L - No nic, another fine day at July 09, 2026 12:05 PM (NFX2v)

240 Lots of video and stories of police coming to someones house and pushing or otherwise disabling the cameras so that what they do is not recorded. To me this is vandalism, as the courts have stated that a consensual visit has the same expectations from the police as if from anybody else, which means if you can charge someone manhandling and damaging your cameras for vandalism, you can also charge the police...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia)

Yes. Police can actually be charged with trespassing if they do not leave after repeated demands by the resident that they do so. And criminal damage. The problem with doing so is of course retaliation from the blue badge gang. One poor sod, I think in Missouri around St. Louis, got special attention from the cops that escalated into a major court case of harassment. Can't remember all the details but it started when the guy started filming people with police encounters which in public, is legal.

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 12:05 PM (E4rtv)

241 Why is it that Mexican joints (Taco Bell, Chipotle) seem to have more food-poisoning issues than other places?
Posted by: Bulg at July 09, 2026 12:04 PM (77rzZ)

Chipotle has a body count.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 12:05 PM (2YhKe)

242 And all for naught if you pay with a card.
Posted by: Oddbob
=======
I suspect, but do not know, if you are even carrying a 'smart' card with RFID, that it can be tracked with the right equipment.

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 12:06 PM (E4rtv)

243 Here's some info for fun...

https://tinyurl.com/35hs7ukx

Posted by: CIA at July 09, 2026 12:06 PM (l3cgK)

244 Chi-Chi's has entered the chat with a body count.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at July 09, 2026 12:06 PM (/THgZ)

245 230 I saw Explosive Diarrhea open for Springsteen at the Outhouse in '75.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 12:03 PM (ndZc7)

I thought that place was such a shitter...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at July 09, 2026 12:07 PM (l3cgK)

246 236 The problem is that the younger generations not only don't care about government and private surveillance, they support more of it. Some truly scary polls from Gen Z showing a shocking number of them -- something like 30% -- support the government installing cameras in private homes to "stop crime."
Posted by: Elric The Blade

Safetyism. If it saves one life..... bullshit. And to be sure, a lot of Gen Z is not ethnically nor mentally American in outlook but rather dear old home country bullshit where people accept being brutalized by their government for their own 'safety'.

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 12:08 PM (E4rtv)

247 222 213 Are you in Kalifornia?
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at July 09, 2026 11:59 AM (l3cgK)

Maryland. 10 cent bag tax in Baltimore County. For the children of course.

Posted by: J. Frank Parnell at July 09, 2026 12:01 PM (0bjKf)

Yeah, 10¢ per bag in Kalifornia, but only at food stores. So when I go to Home Depot...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at July 09, 2026 12:08 PM (l3cgK)

248 Never got sick at either Chipotle or Taco Bell.

Wendy's almost killed me. At least it felt like it.

Posted by: polynikes at July 09, 2026 12:08 PM (/WQyy)

249 226. I use a different camera system and keep my information off the cloud as well.
Posted by: whig

Do you save it on an SD card, or something? (I'm so Tech inept.)

Posted by: L - No nic, another fine day at July 09, 2026 12:08 PM (NFX2v)

250 In New York, military researchers in 1966 spread Bacillus subtilis variant Niger, also believed to be harmless, in the subway system by dropping lightbulbs filled with the bacteria onto tracks in stations in midtown Manhattan.

I hate Nigers.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 12:08 PM (2YhKe)

251 And all for naught if you pay with a card.
Posted by: Oddbob
=======
I suspect, but do not know, if you are even carrying a 'smart' card with RFID, that it can be tracked with the right equipment.
Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 12:06 PM (E4rtv)

----------------

At this point I half expect that I'm being tracked by my tooth fillings going back to 1968 ...

Posted by: ShainS -- Tricentennial or Bust! at July 09, 2026 12:08 PM (udqLL)

252 I wonder if someone else is up to no good?

Posted by: Diogenes at July 09, 2026 12:00 PM (2WIwB)

Yeah, it was DEFINITELY NOT what we did in the Bay area in 1950...

Posted by: CIA at July 09, 2026 12:03 PM (l3cgK)

***
I was referring to foreigners.
If our own government does it, totes OK, amIright?

Posted by: Diogenes at July 09, 2026 12:08 PM (2WIwB)

253
I was like how in the fuck did Costco know this? I doubt dmv records are kept that far back. Or if they are why does Costco have access to that data? Could it have used some social media info or a photo I took or something. It really shocked me.
Posted by: Facts at July 09, 2026 11:49 AM (ehU09)

Sounds like one of those "secret questions" used so you can help establish you identity in the case of a lost password. They don't "know" the real answer, the right answer is whatever you told them initially.

Just say "aquamarine" or "puce".

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 09, 2026 12:09 PM (1z8ji)

254 Talatico can go pound sand
Christians don't go rape, pillage and hold slaves according to their Bible

Posted by: Skip at July 09, 2026 12:09 PM (sgkY8)

255 I saw Explosive Diarrhea open for Springsteen at the Outhouse in '75.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 12:03 PM (ndZc7)
________

So Springsteen opened for Springsteen?

Posted by: Elric The Blade at July 09, 2026 12:09 PM (iFTx/)

256 I have a friend who received a cam-generated speeding ticket from out of state. He ignored it, and I'm guessing that they couldn't do anything about it. Among other things, the registered owner of the car was apersonal trust.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at July 09, 2026 12:09 PM (XeU6L)

257 Love how the deflock.org site - that wants to give you visibility into how you're tracked....

...has tracking cookies on it...and won't load the map if you block them.
Posted by: Defenestratus at July 09, 2026 11:25 AM (WYStd)

Just clear all history and cookies after you leave the site. That's a matter of policy for me. For years.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at July 09, 2026 12:09 PM (5xuJ/)

258 235 Talarico is an op. He's just throwing blasphemy out there. They want the "religious nutbag" to flip out.

Just my take.
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory

The half of the Democrat party that are communists do not understand the other 3/4 of the US population that are not. The other half of the Democrats is the gimmedats that don't give a shit but just want their gubmint checks.

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 12:09 PM (E4rtv)

259 234 Why is it that Mexican joints (Taco Bell, Chipotle) seem to have more food-poisoning issues than other places?

Posted by: Bulg at July 09, 2026 12:04 PM (77rzZ)

They want to give you the authentic feeling of eating food in Mexico...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at July 09, 2026 12:09 PM (l3cgK)

260 Faraday bags for the phone. Dumb cars. Facial-recognition foiling sunglasses and masks. Just to go to the store.
---
Bin Laden allowed no phones near him.
Wrote his communications down on paper and his lackeys would drive for hours and then turn on the burner phone to send the message.
They still found him via cell phone tracking.

That was what, 10 years ago?

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at July 09, 2026 12:11 PM (3cUTc)

261 In New York, military researchers in 1966 spread Bacillus subtilis variant Niger, also believed to be harmless, in the subway system by dropping lightbulbs filled with the bacteria onto tracks in stations in midtown Manhattan.

---------------

I just heard a local Northern Arizona news story that there's some strange infectious disease that Colorado River rafters are now catching rafting through the Grand Canyon.

Because of the long drought, the water level is really low -- and they suspect that the shallow water is heating up to an extent and incubating some kind of infection that people are contracting.

Posted by: ShainS -- Tricentennial or Bust! at July 09, 2026 12:11 PM (udqLL)

262 Why is it that Mexican joints (Taco Bell, Chipotle) seem to have more food-poisoning issues than other places?
Posted by: Bulg at July 09, 2026 12:04 PM (77rzZ)

I can't think of Taco Bell really having problems.

Chipotle on the other hand...

I feel like people are gambling with their lives eating at Chipotle. They constantly have problems. A Canadian vtuber I watch got sick for a week after eating at Chipotle. It's like food poisoning is their brand at this point.

Posted by: Robert at July 09, 2026 12:11 PM (dpXJq)

263 >>Never got sick at either Chipotle or Taco Bell.

Wendy's almost killed me. At least it felt like it.
--------------
Never eaten Taco Bell, never will; had Chipotle maybe 5 times; the one that almost killed me was Steak 'n Shake.

Posted by: Nazdar at July 09, 2026 12:13 PM (NcvvS)

264 The U.S. tracks diseases in sewage systems.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and health departments across the country use wastewater surveillance as an early warning system to track infectious diseases, including measles.

They've been able to pinpoint measles and much more surprising well in the region.

Posted by: L - No nic, another fine day at July 09, 2026 12:13 PM (NFX2v)

265 "And it isn't just government that uses Flock....HOAs are big users of their systems for their deeply disturbing Big Brother activities."

OBJECTION!

HOAs *ARE* government. They're just at a local level. More local than your state, your city, your township.

But just because they're tiny, doesn't mean they don't have the same risks as government. It's just that there's way fewer seats and positions available, and the people that gravitate to those few positions, like moths to a flame, are usually the people you DON'T want anywhere near the levers of power.

Also, much like the axiom about academics, HOA politics are vicious simply because of the lower stakes. Having your nation invaded by a warlike neighbor is a heavier concern than whether your lawn is 6 cm or 8 cm. But those with the tiny bit of power they have will spend too much time and money to make sure YOU never let a blade of grass get to 6.1 cm.

Posted by: Another Anon at July 09, 2026 12:13 PM (4h45B)

266 Just say "aquamarine" or "puce".
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 09, 2026 12:09 PM (1z8ji)

It was multiple choice.

Posted by: Facts at July 09, 2026 12:13 PM (ehU09)

267 I keep thinking about the upteen million yahoos who walked across the open border. Nobody knows who they are or where they are. Get them out. Use the cameras if you have to.

Posted by: Going deep. Out. at July 09, 2026 12:13 PM (9Ftvz)

268 The problem is that the younger generations not only don't care about government and private surveillance, they support more of it. Some truly scary polls from Gen Z showing a shocking number of them -- something like 30% -- support the government installing cameras in private homes to "stop crime."
Posted by: Elric The Blade

Safetyism. If it saves one life..... bullshit. And to be sure, a lot of Gen Z is not ethnically nor mentally American in outlook but rather dear old home country bullshit where people accept being brutalized by their government for their own 'safety'.
Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 12:08 PM (E4rtv)
_____

That, and I think it's probably heavily NIMBY. They support government cameras in other people's homes, but not theirs. Yea, we need surveillance in crime-ridden ghettos and trailer parks, but not in my nice suburban home paid for by mommy and daddy.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at July 09, 2026 12:13 PM (iFTx/)

269 255 I saw Explosive Diarrhea open for Springsteen at the Outhouse in '75.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 12:03 PM (ndZc7)
________

So Springsteen opened for Springsteen?

Posted by: Elric The Blade at July 09, 2026 12:09 PM (iFTx/)

It's an incestuous diarrheic Springstein centipede all the way around.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at July 09, 2026 12:14 PM (l3cgK)

270 😬🤬 264, wrong thread. My apologies.

Posted by: L - No nic, another fine day at July 09, 2026 12:14 PM (NFX2v)

271 Look into the Flock founder and CEO. He is a flake. He thinks his evil cameras can prevent crime.

Posted by: Cow Demon at July 09, 2026 12:14 PM (OwmWb)

272 Nood

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at July 09, 2026 12:14 PM (/THgZ)

273 "Fusion Center"

That's a buzzword someone came up with to describe a place were data is collected, analyzed and decisions made what to do with the information therein. Sometimes the decisions are questionable, ending up being illegal or immoral. A lot of political dirty tricks start in them.

"Datacenters" are the logical extension. They'll hold all sorts of data that can be "fused" together to reveal an awful lot about the public... without their knowledge. And, of course, used to control us.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 09, 2026 12:14 PM (jehhT)

274 In the 1950s, army researchers dispersed zinc cadmium sulfide, a known cancer-causing agent, over Minnesota

-
And now we see the results.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 12:14 PM (ndZc7)

275 ...has tracking cookies on it...and won't load the map if you block them.
Posted by: Defenestratus
-------

Yep. Site was blocked by my system.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at July 09, 2026 12:14 PM (XeU6L)

276 At this point I half expect that I'm being tracked by my tooth fillings going back to 1968 ...
Posted by: ShainS

I used to keep up with the field but quit after I retired. Too depressing. If we want to get our rights back, then horrible punishment of criminals including widespread death penalty and lengthy incarcerations without any tripe of conjugal visits will be necessary for two or three generations. It will take that to prune away the criminal class to a manageable size by a) preventing them from breeding more criminals, b) preventing more crimes as super criminals commit a disproportionate amount of crimes--roughly 2 percent or so of the US population, and c) it breaks up the multi generational pathology creating literal crime families where criminal activity is normalized. (The killer on the Charlotte tram is an example of such intergenerational crime--the father was a murderer himself for example and all the kids had lengthy criminal records.)

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 12:15 PM (E4rtv)

277 People should be more worried about Ring cameras and personal phones or car cameras recording them if we're just worried about privacy .

Though I know the discussion is specifically about government surveillance.

If we didn't have private citizens recoding everything we wouldn't have the Cafe post.

Posted by: polynikes at July 09, 2026 12:15 PM (/WQyy)

278 In the 1950s, army researchers dispersed zinc cadmium sulfide, a known cancer-causing agent, over Minnesota

-
And now we see the results.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at July 09, 2026 12:14 PM (ndZc7)

Cancer causes Somalians?

Posted by: Washington Nearsider: Gotterdammerung at July 09, 2026 12:15 PM (xA5g+)

279 NOODlum.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Cancer at July 09, 2026 12:15 PM (2YhKe)

280 264 The U.S. tracks diseases in sewage systems.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and health departments across the country use wastewater surveillance as an early warning system to track infectious diseases, including measles.

They've been able to pinpoint measles and much more surprising well in the region.

Posted by: L - No nic, another fine day at July 09, 2026 12:13 PM (NFX2v)

I bet certain areas of the country have MUCH higher levels of MonkeyPox in their sewers...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at July 09, 2026 12:15 PM (l3cgK)

281 I used to really like those Jack-In-The-Box mystery meat tacos after a night at the bar. I don't do that anymore but they were better than taco Bell. Del Taco wasn't too bad either.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at July 09, 2026 12:16 PM (fkjGs)

282 That, and I think it's probably heavily NIMBY. They support government cameras in other people's homes, but not theirs. Yea, we need surveillance in crime-ridden ghettos and trailer parks, but not in my nice suburban home paid for by mommy and daddy.
Posted by: Elric The Blade

Eh, the widespread use of Amazon and Google internal cameras, phones that listen, Alexa, etc. school cameras, etc. has probably numbed them to any advantage of privacy. Same with oversharing on social media.

I don't think today's kids 'get' privacy other than as something to hide from parents rather than the cops.

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 12:17 PM (E4rtv)

283 I’ve eaten at chipotle many times never an issue. These things to tend to be blown out of proportion.

Get this the media often lies and exaggerates for clicks and views.

I mean there are thousands of Chipotle locations that serve thousands of people every day. If it was some food poison factory there would be millions of people affected. Instead it’s isolated cases that the media jumps on

Posted by: Facts at July 09, 2026 12:17 PM (ehU09)

284 The only limit is my imagination.
Posted by: Robert

So that would appear to be no limit...

Posted by: Drink Like Vikings at July 09, 2026 12:18 PM (YPk9+)

285 This camera system is one of the reasons I am so suspicious of all the new data centers we supposedly need.

I'm a retired IT guy... and I've been trying to figure out how those data centers will be even close to breaking even, let alone profitable. There are not enough 'Pay For' services to fill them... soooo... the profit centers have to be something else...

Like aggregating even more data about us, and selling it... just like what now partly supports search engines.

As the saying goes, if you are not the paying customer, something about you is the product... these data centers will need product.

Posted by: Romeo13 at July 09, 2026 12:18 PM (mP0Kj)

286 2 tacos for 99 cents at Jack in the box. $3 and you have a wholesome post drinking meal.
Those were the days.

Posted by: Facts at July 09, 2026 12:19 PM (ehU09)

287 I don't think today's kids 'get' privacy other than as something to hide from parents rather than the cops.

Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 12:17 PM (E4rtv)

Growing up with ubiquitous tracking, kids can't even conceive of this idea:

"It’s not that I have something to hide. I have nothing I want you to see."

Posted by: Washington Nearsider: Gotterdammerung at July 09, 2026 12:19 PM (xA5g+)

288 It was multiple choice.
Posted by: Facts at July 09, 2026 12:13 PM (ehU09)

Then pick "none of the above".

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 09, 2026 12:21 PM (1z8ji)

289 Can't remember all the details but it started when the guy started filming people with police encounters which in public, is legal.
Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 12:05 PM (E4rtv)

The correct action for the agency is to request copies of the raw films, not harass.

Posted by: Kindltot at July 09, 2026 12:23 PM (rbvCR)

290
Yes. Police can actually be charged with trespassing if they do not leave after repeated demands by the resident that they do so. And criminal damage. The problem with doing so is of course retaliation from the blue badge gang. One poor sod, I think in Missouri around St. Louis, got special attention from the cops that escalated into a major court case of harassment. Can't remember all the details but it started when the guy started filming people with police encounters which in public, is legal.
Posted by: whig at July 09, 2026 12:05 PM (

You disrespectful piece of shit. WE DO WHAT WE WANT. Laws apply to you but we do as we damn well please. You should be arrested for this post.

Posted by: Police officers at July 09, 2026 12:24 PM (4g5V+)

291 As the saying goes, if you are not the paying customer, something about you is the product... these data centers will need product.
Posted by: Romeo13 at July 09, 2026 12:18 PM (mP0Kj)

The only data centers that will survive are the ones that are subsidized. The rest are mostly a real estate scams and financialization scams.
On the other hand, some of the largest ones planned are twice the size of Manhattan, in the boonies, and I start thinking about the Weathermen's argument that there would have been a need for large concentration camps to intern all the Americans in the deserts in the Southwest that would object to the new way the Weathermen would bring when they took power

Posted by: Kindltot at July 09, 2026 12:27 PM (rbvCR)

292 Growing up with ubiquitous tracking, kids can't even conceive of this idea:

"It’s not that I have something to hide. I have nothing I want you to see."
Posted by: Washington Nearsider: Gotterdammerung at July 09, 2026 12:19 PM (xA5g+)

That’s beside the point.

A cop has no business of saying as much as “Yo dude, how’s it hangin?” To me without damn good reason. If they have no reason to talk to me they should shut their fucking mouths.

Posted by: Cow Demon at July 09, 2026 12:28 PM (4g5V+)

293 I saw that video on X - unreal.
The cop said she did it and used the Flock footage as defacto proof of guilt, like hey, it wasn't his decision, the cameras show it, talk to the hand!
Posted by: Lizzy
------
Unfortunately, if she even slightly resembled the camera image, she would probably be in jail if it went to a jury (without her contrary evidence).
I sat on a jury where the defendant was convicted (despite my vote -believe it or not, Oregon can convict on some crimes with a 10 -2 jury vote) where the only evidence was the word of a coo who supposedly saw her in the back seat of a car, at night, with no interior light, while he was in the front seat making a drug deal.with the driver, for less than 3 minutes total, and who "recognized" her 4 months later meeting her in an unrelated manner.
One *stereotype alert* little old lady on the jury actually said "If she wasn't guilty, I don't think the cop would have arrested her"!
The presumption of innocence is going to take a back seat to confidence in mechanical accuracy.

Posted by: buddhaha at July 09, 2026 12:31 PM (QlKqi)

294 I'm suddenly reminded of a story from a decade or two ago.

In the UK, the government was starting to institute speed cameras everywhere. The public wasn't too enthused, especially since it wasn't for safety, but for fines. Some enterprising folks decided to take it upon themselves to shut down the cameras by placing a tyre over the machines. And then set the tyre on fire.

This was probably around 2010 or so. I remember reading a few articles about it back then. I guess the government got tired of their subjects objecting to being subjected to such heavy-handedness. So they replaced said subjects with imports from elsewhere.

Posted by: Another Anon at July 09, 2026 12:35 PM (4h45B)

295 Officials in Houston TX are PANICKING...

I hate headlines like this. Overstated BS.
Posted by: Diogenes
-----
We need a "Youtube face" emoji for these headlines.

Posted by: buddhaha at July 09, 2026 12:55 PM (QlKqi)

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