‘Darth Vader’ comes out in favor of Flock cameras at San Diego city council meeting
The dark lord – or someone dressed like him – said the technology would aid the empire in tracking ‘rebel scum’ A man dressed as Darth Vader appeared to poke fun at San Diego officials for using Flock Safety automated license plate readers at a city council meeting this week, a stunt that comes as the company faces growing backlash linked to spying concerns. The man, whose real identity remains…
A man dressed as Darth Vader made an appearance at a San Diego public safety committee meeting, where he commented on the use of Flock Safety automated license plate readers. Claiming the technology would assist the "empire" in tracking "rebel scum," the masked individual expressed concern over the surveillance system. He also highlighted potential misuse of Flock cameras, such as tracking children and stalking ex-partners.
Flock Safety, an Atlanta-based company, defends its technology as beneficial to law enforcement, emphasizing its success in recovering stolen vehicles and locating missing persons. Despite this, San Diego city council members decided to maintain the Flock system in December. However, Flock has faced criticism and backlash, with some municipalities deactivating or canceling their contracts.
In August, Flock announced new policies to prevent misuse, such as requiring law enforcement agencies to use an audit assistance feature, though some experts deem these measures insufficient.
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