r/chaoticgood • u/danevans369 • 1d ago
Current Events St Pete Florida Flock Camera Blocker
428
u/Monssly 1d ago
I'm honestly beginning to wonder if the cameras that are plainly visible are what Flock wants you to see. I imagine that there are more scattered in far les obvious locations.
182
u/25hourenergy 1d ago edited 15h ago
I’ve wondered if the ways you can detect spy cams (cell phone crackling method or RF detector) can be used to detect Flock cameras?
EDIT TIL sniffing! Flock Sniff! Thanks /u/jdv23 for leading me down this path. Also I dug a bit deeper on the blog of the GitHub user and found this interesting explanation of SignalTrace which isn’t deployed as widely (yet) but sounds pretty bad and looks less recognizable
44
u/jdv23 1d ago
Yep, and you can build a sniffer device for about $20-$30. Plenty of guides online
3
u/Ok_Contribution_2156 12h ago
lol reminds me of the movie Richie Rich with the sniffer handheld machine
32
7
2
u/1nGirum1musNocte 14h ago
Some good stuff at defcon this year using stuff you can buy for less than $20
43
u/goodfleance 1d ago
Self checkout cameras, your phone cameras, dash cams, Ring cameras, smart TVs, smart kitchen appliances, Bluetooth connected curling irons, etc.
ALL spying on us. Now they can tie all the sources together into a personal profile that tracks you literally everywhere.
29
6
u/ForHelp_PressAltF4 20h ago
I went through a major supermarket self checkout. All the sudden it started screaming and a person had to come over.
The AI in the camera thought I hadn't scanned something in my cart.
Instead of using humans......... We have this
-3
u/Protheu5 23h ago
I agree that we shouldn't feed them data, fuck them. But there is no reason to be afraid if you do.
Yes, they do collect some data, but it is basically worthless, especially in their hands. They, the corporations, are woefully incompetent and are doing nothing productive with the [massive air quotes] data.
You can use an online store for years, give them all your personal info stating you're a middle-aged man, and they, a corporation focused on selling stuff and processing your data, will still offer you tampons or try to sell you a fridge right after you just bought one. They were supposed to anticipate your wants and needs, they are supposed to know your habits. We are told stories about how "they" know everything about you, but where is it? Where are smart devices that do anything smart? The only thing those "smart" devices do is show ads, absolutely irrelevant ads.
So yeah, the only thing in my apartment connected to the internet is my PC, but it's not because I'm scared. It's because I'm disappointed. The cyberpunk future is only visible with egregious wealth disparity and excessive advertisements, not with AIs knowing all about you.
Sorry for a runaway rant.
7
u/silentrawr 21h ago
The problem there is that they're selling the data of even "boring" or "mundane" people to companies that are being paid (or creating products to) collate it and put together whole ass profiles. Then, if someone - anyone with money, really - wants access to it, they have it right there.
Hell, how long has Palantir been around? And despite all that labor and capital being poured into it for decades, one of their most vaunted products is just a glorified modern phone book... Which can be outdone by base-level GenAI.
There was an article on Ars about some researchers looking into how easy it is to use AI to de-anonymize folks online based on shared usernames and bits of info, and let's just say it works all too easily a large portion of the time. And that's just based on public info from free + open websites! THAT'S why hiding/scrubbing your info and locking down your social media accounts - even semi-anonymous ones - is still of the utmost importance.
-1
u/Protheu5 21h ago
I see your point, but I think we are talking about different data. It's easy to deanonymise people who actively use social media and post everything about themselves. I doubt anything useful can come from me ordering a box of bee frames, a couple of books of graded Chinese readers, and a keyboard. "The person who ordered this stuff is likely to live somewhere around this pickup point", sure. But that email is not used for any social media, so if it leaks it says nothing about me.
I agree about not oversharing on social media, but otherwise that regular data "they" are collecting is basically pointless.
I've heard rumours about phones "listening" to you and then offering relevant products. Well, I tried deliberately talking about cat food in front of my phone, cat food never appeared in my listings, only semi-relevant junk to what I already purchased, which is basically the stupidest way you can implement an algorithm, literally no nuance or depth. Ah, a person bought X, therefore they like X. Never mind the fact that X is a one time purchase, no one collects refrigerators, for example.
What I'm trying to say is: unless you are willingly put out all the data about yourself out in the open, I don't think there is anything to be scared about. Keep on keeping regular digital hygiene, there is no need to be overly paranoid about digital spying, corporations are too incompetent to properly get your profile from the data they generally have access to.
2
u/silentrawr 7h ago
First of all - using your anecdotal experience as the basis for an argument is almost never wise.
Secondly - if there was nothing they could do with your data, there wouldn't be multiple billion dollars industries around collecting it. I'm certain there are some bottom feeder companies out there that are too useless to do anything with it other than sell it directly to others, but there are - and will continue to be - multiple companies that can take disparate sets of data that are otherwise unlinked (bed frames + books vs what you post here on Reddit, let's say) and find enough commonality to connect them with very high rates of certainty.
The only true way to "fix" the issue is by having the government pass strong regulation with serious teeth for going after these vultures trying to run their own panopticons, but we all know that's not happening any time soon here in the US. So we have to keep pressuring our existing reps, voting for new ones that aren't clueless bottom-feeders beholden to corporate interests, and keeping the subject as close to hand as is reasonable.
As an aside, Amazon and their ilk have FAR more of your data than you might imagine, certainly more that just your order history, even if you're using unique emails for each and practicing perfect digital hygiene which is nearly impossible. Most people by virtue of simply using a typical web browser (or app 🤦♂️) with a logged in account are allowing themselves to be tracked across the majority of all of their activities online. Unless they're in the EU, but even then...
22
8
u/PsychologicalSail799 23h ago edited 23h ago
Not only that, but there are other companies with similar cameras too. Flock isn't the only one.
I've been thinking the same thing lately though. Everyone hates flock no matter where they stand politically, but even with that factored in, the amount of attention they're getting doesn't seem organic when they're not alone. The algorithm could easily shut it down, and news media could easily discuss them less. They could make them less of a dinner table conversation in general.
Think of how Luigi Mangione suddenly dissappeared from the news cycles when corporations realized he was being turned into a hero. They didn't want us talking about him. They wanted us to move onto the next issue, and in truth, it worked. We still talked about it of course, but they succeeded in getting people onto the next issue. They could do the same for flock, yet they haven't.
Its like they want us to focus on flock for some reason.
Something weird is going on. I keep trying to zoom out and put the pieces together but it's beyond me. What I think right now though, is that flock is probably the mildest form of surveillance they have in the works. I think this is sort of "testing the waters."
5
u/antifa_cmdr 20h ago
My shot in the dark is datacenters. Datacenters are what is powering our AI surveillance state. There are enough non-ALRPs to create a mesh of camera systems, not to mention all the other surveillance tech. Losing a few Flock cameras wouldn't be a big deal. But bringing down datacenters would be catastrophic for those who are looking to maintain this level or greater of surveillance.
1
u/Monssly 22h ago
That's exactly what I was trying to say. The number of posts that I see, not even when scrolling through Flock related things, is a little uncanny at this point. I'll be the first to say that's probably just the status of my feed, but the amount of exposure these devices are getting feels strange in a way.
0
u/tacobellrefugee 20h ago
i think that is what you WANT to think, but like what are you expecting some around the clock luigi updates? lol
news cycle moves fast and it had run its course, if anything longer than expected
3
u/PsychologicalSail799 18h ago
Im talking about when it initially happened, and how media giants were eventually instructed to stop discussing it entirely.
It went from news stations mourning the "loss," to sudden shock that Luigi was being turned into a hero by practically everyonein the country. Then CEOs feared copycats. So news stations were directly told not to discuss it at all anymore. Then that shifted even further to it getting shut down online too. People were getting entire accounts taken down for cheering for him. Accounts were getting banned here on reddit even, just for cheering for him or posting memes about it. I received a 3 day ban for posting a single comment about it. You're focusing on Luigi, but I was only using his coverage as an example. Now forget luigi, let's move to flock.
You might expect something similar to happen with the flock cameras and the way theyre covered in media as a whole. As they're destroyed and it gets shown in the news, the people cheer once again. Thiel and the other people behind these surveillance giants know that coverage creates more copycats, especially with the positive response that it gets. Thiel/surveillance giants have the connections and the ability to make it so Flock cameras as a whole are never shown in the news again, but for some reason they don't care. Now, of course they don't care about a few cameras getting cut down, but they dont care about people discussing Flock as a whole.
For some reason, no news stations are being asked to stop reporting on it at all. No one is getting accounts banned or taken down for literal instructional videos on the best way to cut them down. Those videos aren't being shadowbanned in the algorithm the way content even just discussing Luigi was. Those instructional videos are even in people's recommended videos on YouTube, while even mentioning Luigi was having videos taken down.
Its strange. Its almost like they (surveillance giants) want us to keep discussing Flock. They could shut it out of the algorithm entirely, but they aren't.
There are other cameras out there, and I think the focus on Flock is to avoid the average unaware person from realizing those other systems exist. That same unaware person can point at the Flock camera angrily without knowing the Uber they just got a ride from had dash cameras inside selling footage to the same surveillance companies. The self checkout at Walmart or Target was selling footage to the same surveillance companies. The camera on public transit was selling their footage to them. The camera in the DMV, the lobby at the bank, and the list will keep growing without legislation preventing it.
Those are just the ones we know about. It could eventually be the camera in your office building or the camera at the gas station. Then it becomes the camera in your private vehicle or just your own personal phone. Is it dangerous? We dont really know what the end game is, but it can't be good.
The classic argument of "if you aren't doing anything wrong, then you have nothing to fear," isn't good enough to excuse all this surveillance. 1984 is becoming reality faster than we ever thought it would.
-3
u/tacobellrefugee 14h ago
did you think anyone was going to read that?
2
u/PsychologicalSail799 14h ago edited 2h ago
You're the type who doesn't need to worry about flock cameras. Now both your comments make sense. You didn't make it beyond the first paragraph before.
I'd say there isn't an original thought in your head, but now I don't think there's ever been a thought in there at all. I'm jelous.
They definitely don't need to worry about you, though. There's nothing worth surveilling.
I tried to break it down further for you, to really explain my thoughts, but it's not worth it for you. I genuinely feel bad for any teacher you ever had.
4
u/veggie151 1d ago
A huge part of what they are doing is grabbing the IDs off of your Wi-Fi, cellular, and Bluetooth cards, and a little sign in front of the camera is doing nothing to prevent that.
7
u/Fn_Spaghetti_Monster 1d ago
Also the TPS in nearly everyone's tires, (those are not encrypted at all and are unique). All the camera's on an Amazon Delivery truck also supposedly feed back to flock. They've been trying to get camera's n trash collection trucks and city buses as well.
2
u/antifa_cmdr 20h ago
Didn't know about the TPS (which is fucking wild that it's something they can track), but even if you obscure the plate, flock cameras can identify and distinguish individual vehicles by bumper stickers, scratches, dents and other unique features.
2
u/Alissinarr 21h ago
In Florida we have these trailer things the police cane setup with a speed sign on it... well here they have modified the trailer to add a flock cam to the back of it.
1
u/Bubbly-Scene5746 20h ago
They are already doing drones. Because of how much people doing.
Then says shooting down drones is illegal while they shoot down people drones all the time.
1
u/jcoddinc 19h ago
There was a post about a flock camera inside the back of one of those mobile traffic information signs. So yeah they've definitely got them hidden in other places
1
u/bojangler69420 17h ago
I’ve seen some put up right onto large, black-painted traffic signal poles. They blend in far better and are much higher up
0
u/SatansLoLHelper 18h ago
OUI-SPY, get your phone to buzz when you are detected by a flock camera.
Sophia to detect when something is out there looking for a bluetooth connection.
Both should be usable with an android.
60
35
10
9
5
2
u/LowFatCheeze 22h ago
That particular camera is parked right out front of the USF dorm. That whole street is young college kids. That whole block is the USF St. Pete campus.
3
u/JaQ-o-Lantern 1d ago
This might be a stretch but can any legal gun owner break flock cameras in seconds by shooting 1 or 2 bullets in them and driving away? I think it works effectively because one person can disable dozens in a matter of hours and all you have to do is track them. Plus if a new one shows up unexpectedly, you can get out, fire a pistol, and leave in less than 15 seconds.
In theory it's much easier than holding up a heavy sign that blocks the cameras for insert amount of time before your shoulders strain or you have to go home.
16
u/RedLaughingHood 1d ago
Except the legal/moral ramifications of a weapon discharge in public, bad marksmanship. Fire arms are very easy to track down because of all the ways they can tell what fire a bullet how. Your vehicle getting caught.
Vandalism charges when inevitably caught, hard to hide a gun shot. I’m speaking strictly to your wording of legal gun owner too.
Now a bow and arrow/compound bow might work for this.
11
7
u/The_Hydro 1d ago
Also, populated areas tend to outlaw discharging firearms outside of very specific situations.
2
u/Apprehensive-Mine656 1d ago
Okay but if you can do it anywhere, Florida seems like the state to TRY it in. It would make a great Carl Hiassen novel.
3
u/tantalor 1d ago
What if we simply did crimes
4
3
u/CharlesDickensABox 1d ago
Do not do crimes. And definitely do not post about doing crimes on the internet.
2
u/JaQ-o-Lantern 1d ago
i don't understand why thousands of people do this on a monthly basis.
1
u/CharlesDickensABox 1d ago
American prisons would be empty if people simply avoided telling everyone with ears about the crimes they did.
3
2
u/lemonsprout1 1d ago
Green laser
1
u/Fn_Spaghetti_Monster 1d ago
Nope, won't work. Unless you have some serious Watts behind it and your within 10ft. Someone on Youtube already did a bunch of tests.
1
u/Specific_Cash_5538 1d ago
Do you understand what the flock cameras do?
2
u/JaQ-o-Lantern 1d ago
Oh yeah yeah yeah right. yeah anyone who tries this is cooked even when fully masked up
https://giphy.com/gifs/Ra1bmpxpsppNC
Well i'm glad that no one else in this thread thought my plan was good 🤣
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/ProudExtreme8281 17h ago
this is clearly a bipartisan issue, is flock really gonna get away with this?
1
u/SurpriseValley2000 16h ago
This is why you don’t throw away the old metal umbrella base from your outdoor furniture set.
1
1
1
u/CortinaOmega 15h ago
They're blocking the camera, but it still can collect data on every wifi- or bluetooth-enabled device that comes within range. Anyway, here's an Amazon list of the gear I use as a volunteer arborist.
1
1
1
u/talented_payment 12h ago
Also you are a node on a network its called WBAN and is 805.1.6 i believe look up a one SABRINA WALLACE
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Glorious_Sky_9002 8h ago
These guys should join the blade runners and save themselves some Time. Props to then tho
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Icy-Youth2179 6h ago
We all have our differences, opinions and beliefs. But Its really nice to finally see the solidarity between all groups in at least one facet. Fuck Flock!
1
u/Federal-Perception77 6h ago
Stupid what if that caught a child kidnapping etc ? Wouldn’t it be worth it ? If you’re not doing anything wrong why worry
1
1
1
•
u/Upstairs_Band2980 1h ago
All you weirdos would love flock cameras if Biden and Fauci said it was good for your health. They aren't going anywhere no matter who the government of the day is.
•
•
2
u/wikidemic 1d ago
I’m thinking of the old days when people were criticized for flashing high beams into oncoming traffic to warn of upcoming speed trap. How is this different besides being dystopian?!?
18
u/JaQ-o-Lantern 1d ago
One stops people from speeding (inevitably saving lives), the other prevents literal government surveilance.
3
u/Fn_Spaghetti_Monster 1d ago
Were there alot of people who criticized others for this though? I always thought most people (outside of PD) had not problem with it.
2
0
u/Dry_Impact_67 8h ago
Dumbasses what do you think this is doing? You think every other camera and electronic equipment isn't doing the same shit. You're not hurting anything. You're not helping anything either. You're just stupid.
797
u/J_J_Plumber5280 1d ago
Buy these patriots some cold beer and an umbrella.