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1984@lemmy.today

Across the US, people are dismantling and destroying Flock surveillance cameras (www.bloodinthemachine.com)

submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by 1984@lemmy.today to c/technology@lemmy.today

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I just love seeing people fighting back against this bullshit.

Flock cameras are typically mounted on 8 to 12 foot poles and powered by a solar panel. The smashed remains of all of the above in La Mesa are the latest examples of a widening anti-Flock backlash. In recent months, people have been smashing and dismantling the surveillance devices, in incidents reported in at least five states, from coast to coast.

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[–] Arghblarg@lemmy.ca 5 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago) (3 children)

I wonder if Flock cameras would be susceptible to burnout from a DVD-writer laser. Hmm. Of course it should only be done from level or above the camera, thus pointing downward, as pointing a laser skyward and missing the camera would risk aircraft.

Ah, now I'm on a list. As if I wasn't already.

[–] 1984@lemmy.today 13 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Another guy on hacker news:

I'm surprised the flock cameras aren't being disabled in a more subtle fashion.

All it takes is a tiny drone with a stick attached, and at the end of that stick is a tiny sponge soaked with tempera paint. Drone goes 'boop' on the camera lens, and the entire system is disabled until an expensive technician drives out with a ladder and cleans the lens at non-trivial expense.

A handful of enterprising activists could blind all the flock cameras in a region in a day or two, and without destroying them, which makes it less of an overtly criminal act.

Obviously not advocating this, just pointing out that flock is very vulnerable to this very simple attack from activists.

[–] Arghblarg@lemmy.ca 0 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago) (1 children)

I doubt 'just' painting the lenses would be treated as any less criminal than other ways of disabling them. It would still be considered vandalism at a minimum, and given the climate in the US now, probably terrorism. Wear a MAGA hat while you're doing whatever you're doing and maybe you'll get pardoned if you can frame your motivations well enough /s

I'd thought of drones right away too -- but those are being criminalized so rapidly esp. in the USA from what I hear... and drones can draw a lot of attention esp. in certain areas.

DVD-writer lasers are, if I recall, not visible to the naked eye, which makes them quite dangerous (cheesy video apparently confirms this, at the end). If paired with a visible light or dollar-store visible laser pointer, to set up the aim... then just leave the DVD laser on for a few minutes or however long it would take to burn out the CCD.

But again, heavens PLEASE never aim them skywards.

[–] bdonvr@thelemmy.club 2 points 19 hours ago

I mean you wouldn't be destroying them. I'm sure it would be a marginally lesser charge but no doubt you'd get charged eventually.

[–] mrmanager@lemmy.today 4 points 21 hours ago

Its a good list of good people. :)

[–] 1984@lemmy.today 2 points 23 hours ago

Or just accidentally spraying some paint in their direction...