{
  "id": 2185753,
  "title": "'Darth Vader' Wants Flock in San Diego",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/darth-vader-wants-flock-in-san-diego",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-20T17:10:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "404 Media",
    "slug": "404-media",
    "url": "https://www.404media.co/darth-vader-spoke-in-support-of-flock-at-san-diego-city-council-meeting/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "During a recent San Diego city council meeting, a mysterious figure known as Darth Vader approached the microphone. His heavy breathing echoed before he even reached the podium. At the Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee meeting on August 19, Vader passionately advocated for a technology called Flock to San Diego.\n\nIntrigued by Vader's presence, the reporter provided his contact information for Vader to reach out directly. Vader, who identifies himself as a fan of Flock, passionately argued for the continuation of surveillance technology. He claimed that Flock cameras, which include license plate readers, were needed to monitor the activities of \"rebel scum\" as they moved from one location to another.\n\nVader also questioned the council's trustworthiness, suggesting that their continued support of surveillance technology was evidence of their desire to imprison citizens. He referenced a previous vote in favor of an Unsafe Camping Ordinance, which critics argue criminalizes homelessness.\n\nVader passionately argued for the technology, comparing it to the need to locate Luke Skywalker and his X-wing in a galaxy far, far away. He claimed that Flock technology was a necessary tool for law enforcement to find criminals and identify connections between individuals.\n\nFlock operates in San Diego with over 550 cameras installed, and the city has signed a year-long deal to join Flock's Nova service. This service provides San Diego Police Department access to open source intelligence and data from other law enforcement agencies.\n\n404 Media recently revealed that Nova supplements license plate data with personal information sourced from other companies and the wider web, raising concerns about privacy.",
  "summary": "\"The emperor is a fan of Flock, and we must continue utilizing Flock technologies so that we can follow and surveil the rebel scum,\" Vader said during the meeting.",
  "key_points": [
    "Darth Vader, a Flock advocate, spoke at San Diego city council meeting",
    "Vader wants surveillance technology Flock in San Diego for \"rebel scum\"",
    "Concerns raised about privacy with Nova service supplementing data"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}