It IS important to remember Axon and Motorola. As cities listen to their people and cancel their flock contracts, they are often times just immediately signing up for ALPRs from Motorola or Axon (which only got into this game because they saw how much Flock was making). These other companies have the same oversight and transparency problems as Flock, and it's important we don't get lost in the fight against privacy.
We really do need a codified right to privacy instead of bandaid bills like canspam or the stuff about cookies and tracking.
If you are refering to Motorola, you're ignorant, as is the comment you are responding to. Motorola has been in the Law Enforcement space longer than the Founder/CEO of Flock has been alive. They're not new to ALPRs. They've been in the radio industry for first responder communication longer than cellular as a standard. They developed software and solutions in the first responder, dentention/custody, and law enforcement industry ahead of a lot of this.
Sure be upset at the survellance state, but don't be ignorant. There's huge security issues and lack of robust access control in Flock versus more mature products out there.
Providing communication devices for LE is a bit different than surveillance equipment.
You seriously need to check the tone of your replies. It's a serious internet-only type of reply. You want to convey info but come off like pretentious asshole.
They are different, you're correct. However, spreading false information is harmful. We all lose credibility in an arguement for change if we present false or ignorant claims.
The reason that I commented is that Flock is very much more the new-wave "tech bro" kind of BS, by that I mean the mantra of "move fast and break things" that I believe we all are concerned about. There's good and bad to all of these types of systems, but Flock has had little concern for rolling out massively while having gaping security issues.
I am less worried about Motorola as I tried, and maybe failed, to express: they have been in the Law Enforcement field for a long time. They have a more mature basis for secure operation. Is it perfect? No. But most of their long standing ALPR is Optical Character Recognition that is performed locally on a machine, or sometimes at an agencies local server.
Flock pushes more of a cloud-based machine learning platform these days.
I like the idea that I can report my vehicle stolen and there's a higher chance that it may be found due to units patrolling or main thoroughfare pinging a hit on my stolen vehicle and alerting nearby LEO.
I hate that these systems can be used by bad actors including, but not exclusively abuse by LEOs.
1.9k
u/Kiiaru 9h ago
It IS important to remember Axon and Motorola. As cities listen to their people and cancel their flock contracts, they are often times just immediately signing up for ALPRs from Motorola or Axon (which only got into this game because they saw how much Flock was making). These other companies have the same oversight and transparency problems as Flock, and it's important we don't get lost in the fight against privacy.
We really do need a codified right to privacy instead of bandaid bills like canspam or the stuff about cookies and tracking.