License Plate Scanners.

[buckeyefarmer]

EZ Pass has a history of taking off more than they should, or at times you don't even go thru a reader... I refuse to get one. I avoid toll roads anyways, and only take them if there's no other way, like a the Bay Bridge to the eastern shore. It's a toll any way you go, unless you take back roads up into PA then down. When I used to take the VA greenway they still had toll booths.

 

[5030]

Never had an issue with the Mass Pass in years. For us, it's a convenience thing.

 

[Gem99ultra]

Google 'Flock Security'. Their cameras are going up everywhere, probably a billion dollar industry, and they use AI 'finger printing' of cars in addition to LPR. They record frequent trips, ect. I think there is like 18 in my county, that i specifically know of, and I'm sure more I haven't noticed. Very creepy big brother stuff

I've seen the Flock personally, in action. The Flock systems are extremely accurate - and very effective. They can locate any vehicle based on not only the license plate but any other combinations of identification on the vehicle, such as a scratch, color, decal, window tint, or any other identification known.

 

[WinterDeere]

I've seen the Flock personally, in action. The Flock systems are extremely accurate - and very effective. They can locate any vehicle based on not only the license plate but any other combinations of identification on the vehicle, such as a scratch, color, decal, window tint, or any other identification known.

The slogan on the Law Enforcement wing of their site is "4000+ communities trust Flock Security to help eliminate crime."

While they may help in apprehending perpetrators, that's a different thing than preventing or eliminating the crime, in the first place. I suppose they're working on the theories that, post-apprehension, the perpetrators will choose to commit future crimes elsewhere, or that those aware of the cameras will do the same? It's a bit of a reach to say they "eliminate", essentially meaning "prevent" crime.

Lots of privacy concerns, surrounding this flock system, with some (e.g. EFF) claiming they create more problems than they resolve.

 

[paulsharvey]

Without going too much into detail; the Flock systems take very detailed pictures in addition to the vehicle fingerprinting. Some of their systems also record audio. I dont like them, but it seems they are unstoppable.

The sheriff's office doesn't own them, and I'm not 100% sure if they lease them, or buy the data? But a concern is, Flock is a private company, and who else do they sell all this data too, how long do they keep it, and is fall under Public Records Requests. There apparently are rules about how long they can save the data, but once it's sold the the sheriff's office, what's to prevent them keeping it. Basically it would allow them to keep a detailed record of all vehicle movements in a county.

 

[Eagle1]

Without going too much into detail; the Flock systems take very detailed pictures in addition to the vehicle fingerprinting. Some of their systems also record audio. I dont like them, but it seems they are unstoppable.

The sheriff's office doesn't own them, and I'm not 100% sure if they lease them, or buy the data? But a concern is, Flock is a private company, and who else do they sell all this data too, how long do they keep it, and is fall under Public Records Requests. There apparently are rules about how long they can save the data, but once it's sold the the sheriff's office, what's to prevent them keeping it. Basically it would allow them to keep a detailed record of all vehicle movements in a county.

You mean like built in GPS locator linked to the net

 

[paulsharvey]

You mean like built in GPS locator linked to the net

It records the vehicles passing it, but they are all linked, so it can see you went past Flock A, and then past Flock-B 47 minutes later, and then back past Flock-A, and that you made 17 trips over 4 days or whatever. Yes, the Flock does have the GPS location of their device. They tend to place them very strategically, at major intersections, major highways entering a county, near scrap yards/food banks/high crime neighborhoods; as well as major entry points to the area.


Edit; I think your comment went over my head at first; yes, your devices certainly do track you; but I for one feel better about Google/Samsung/Huawei tracking my movements, than the US gov. Sure, they can get those from private companies, But they need a search warrant. These Flock cameras are constantly scanning every vehicle; no search warrant needed.

 

[Eagle1]

It records the vehicles passing it, but they are all linked, so it can see you went past Flock A, and then past Flock-B 47 minutes later, and then back past Flock-A, and that you made 17 trips over 4 days or whatever. Yes, the Flock does have the GPS location of their device. They tend to place them very strategically, at major intersections, major highways entering a county, near scrap yards/food banks/high crime neighborhoods; as well as major entry points to the area.

I mean that any modern car with GPS and connectivity also tracks every movement the car makes and that data is frequently sold on the open market.

 

[ning]

I mean that any modern car with GPS and connectivity also tracks every movement the car makes and that data is frequently sold on the open market.

But you can turn this off (even if you don't). Your option. Not with Flock.

 

[ultrarunner]

It's kind of like a Tesla owner objecting to being filmed when their Tesla films anything within range.

Or businesses with sidewalk facing cameras objecting when cameras are pointed in their direction.