{
  "id": 8090430,
  "title": "‘I don’t remember the case number leave me alone': US cops ignore Flock camera oversight, probing nationwide surveillance network with bogus reasoning",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/i-dont-remember-the-case-number-leave-me-alone-us-cops-ignore-flock",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-17T20:05:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechRadar",
    "slug": "techradar",
    "url": "https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/i-dont-remember-the-case-number-leave-me-alone-us-cops-ignore-flock-camera-oversight-probing-nationwide-surveillance-network-with-bogus-reasoning"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has uncovered a concerning pattern of abuse involving the Flock camera surveillance system in the United States. This network, comprised of over 82,413 cameras, is being utilized by police without a legitimate reason, sparking outrage among citizens. According to a recent investigation by the EFF, almost half of American citizens oppose the installation of Flock cameras. In one instance, a police officer in Lake County, Indiana, searched nearly 19,000 cameras using the justification \"LMAO.\" Other officers filled the justification field with expletives or nonsensical phrases like \"weird kid\" and \"robbery I don't remember the case number leave me alone.\" The EFF confronted numerous police departments regarding these bogus reasons for using the system, but the officers were only \"counseled\" and not disciplined. Moreover, hackers gained access to a Flock camera, extracting over 27,000 clips and 1.6 million images over a span of 21 days. Despite the concerns surrounding Flock cameras, almost half of Americans oppose their use. Even cities like Columbus, Ohio, have paused their Flock camera network, while Florida and Texas have reduced their usage of these systems. However, the issue with Flock cameras extends beyond abuse by officers; hackers have also stolen encryption keys from cameras, potentially exposing intimate footage. The controversy surrounding Flock cameras draws parallels to the broader debate on mass surveillance, where proponents argue that having nothing to hide does not equate to a lack of concern over privacy.",
  "summary": "Flock cameras are being abused by cops who are giving bogus official reasons for their use.",
  "key_points": [
    "Over 82,413 Flock cameras deployed nationwide by US police.",
    "Police officers use bogus reasons like \"LMAO\" to justify camera searches.",
    "Hackers accessed Flock cameras, stealing 27,000 clips and 1.6 million images."
  ],
  "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."
}