Flock’s Secret Surveillance Plan Will Make You Gasp

Flock had ambitious plans to bolster its surveillance network, as detailed in a presentation obtained by 404 Media. The company aimed to utilize dashcams from Uber and Lyft drivers, turning them into a network of mobile surveillance vehicles. This idea was discussed in a presentation meant for the Georgia Office of the Attorney General, revealed through a public records request.

The plan would have expanded Flock's surveillance to include hundreds of commercial businesses and home owners associations in Georgia, with an additional 350,000 devices from Uber, Lyft, and other delivery services. The presentation suggested that this method could lower Flock's visibility, as protestors have been targeting its stationary surveillance pylons.

However, it is uncertain whether Uber and Lyft drivers would have been informed about their participation in this surveillance effort. The footage collected by these dashcams would be accessible to police nationwide, raising concerns about privacy and accountability. At least 50 police officers have been accused of using Flock's cameras to stalk women, and many individuals have been wrongly accused by the system.

Flock recently canceled a pilot program for human distress detection, a network of acoustic sensors monitoring public places, further emphasizing their commitment to expanding surveillance capabilities.