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Across the US, people are dismantling and destroying Flock surveillance cameras. Anger over ICE connections and privacy violations is fueling the sabotage.
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brygphilomena lemmy.dbzer0.com brygphilomena@lemmy.dbzer0.com
Joined: 2025-02-12
#52 · Quote Reply

Leave your phone at home. Don't drive your own car there, and don't get an uber. Ride a scooter, bicycle, or walk. Wear a dust mask, headphones (to prevent ear pattern recognition) and safety glasses. Wear a high vis vest while working on the camera. The retro reflective strips show up as dazzling white on infrared cameras, washing out the image. It also helps make any witness assume you're a l...

Specifically say you are invoking your right to silence and specifically say you are invoking your right to council.

If they continue to pester you after this, it's a violation of your rights and a lawyer will have more ammunition to defend you.

If they come back hours later and try talking to you again, you invoke them again. After a significant period of time (whatever the cop decides) they can try again to "see if you've changed your mind."

But just staying silent is not the same in the courts as invoking your right to remain silent.

People tend to want to talk and fill silence. You'll have to control your urges and learn to be comfortable in silence.

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Ulrich feddit.org Ulrich@feddit.org
Joined: 2024-12-22
#53 · Quote Reply

right, but you do have to approach it. I think the question is more "how are people not being tracked from blocks away"

Use Deflock maps to avoid them. Ride a bike. My city is full of rogue natural trails so I can get around pretty easy without coming across them. Even if I did I have an indistinct bike with no logos. Typical balaclava, hat, sunglasses, etc.

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littlewonder lemmy.world littlewonder@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-19
#54 · Quote Reply

Good, fuck this panopticon dystopia shit. Also, some guy sliced the entire pole and left a message: hahaha get wrecked ya surveilling fucks

panopticon

Great word choice.

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frongt lemmy.zip frongt@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-07-31
#55 · Quote Reply

This is too defeatist for me. I am upset to see these all over town, but too small minded to do anything about it. I want to start something to pressure community leaders to change, but i worry that i'll make a lot of noise then drop it like i do with everything. I'd love to join with a group.

A black trash bag, a roll of duct tape, and a ladder are not destructive but still very effective.

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BanMe lemmy.world BanMe@lemmy.world
Joined: 2025-09-01
#56 · Quote Reply

There's one a block from my house, and three blocks from my work, so they can see me coming and going each direction.

...BRB

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londos lemmy.world londos@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-21
#57 · Quote Reply

my neighbor hood has one right at the entrance. I make a point of flipping it off every time i pass it. Also, If you were curious how many of these violations of privacy are around you. Here you go- https://deflock.org/map

Everyone should start 3d printing faces of Epstein and take them everywhere they go

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FauxLiving lemmy.world FauxLiving@lemmy.world
Joined: 2025-02-10
#58 · Quote Reply

Good, fuck this panopticon dystopia shit. Also, some guy sliced the entire pole and left a message: hahaha get wrecked ya surveilling fucks

hahaha get wrecked ya surveilling fucks

lol

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FauxLiving lemmy.world FauxLiving@lemmy.world
Joined: 2025-02-10
#59 · (edited) Quote Reply

Specifically say you are invoking your right to silence and specifically say you are invoking your right to council. If they continue to pester you after this, it's a violation of your rights and a lawyer will have more ammunition to defend you. If they come back hours later and try talking to you again, you invoke them again. After a significant period of time (whatever the cop decides) they c...

Also, don't sweat too hard because covering/uninstalling cameras like this is misdemenor-level vandalism (don't take the cameras, they cost enough to warrant felony grand theft charges).

You'll have a bond and the bond will be low enough that most bail bondsmen will bond you out on promise of payment even if you don't have someone outside ready to come get you.

If you're caught, you're looking at a few months of probation and restitution. If confronted by police, stay calm, follow orders, "I don't want to answer questions without a lawyer" and "" are all you need to say. Do that an you'll be right back home opening a gofundme in no time.

Don't do crimes though, obviously.

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FauxLiving lemmy.world FauxLiving@lemmy.world
Joined: 2025-02-10
#60 · Quote Reply

It’s sad, but I don’t think there’s much else that can be done. I guess it’s all running how the CCP wants it now? (Or are there still protests we just don’t hear about?)

Beijing inserted candidates into the local elections, won power and passed sweeping National Security laws which allowed for mass arrests and the breaking up of pro-democracy institutions. The key people in the movement were jailed. New laws, mass arrests and detainment effectively ended protests.

TL;DR: it was crushed.

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blitzen lemmy.ca blitzen@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2023-06-10
#61 · Quote Reply

Even if they do, don't be a dumbass and have your phone on you and be completely covered and approach the device via analogue method (e.g. walking, bicycle without a serial, etc).

As an aside, I’ve been toying with the following idea:

I like to refurbish bicycles for my own use. The idea I’ve had is to buy cheap Facebook marketplace / Craigslist bikes, disassemble, grind off the serial, and paint in a uniform and non identifiable (or at least less so) and reassemble, replacing wear parts. Put them into the community to use however they see fit, cheap enough to ditch without caring.

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rainbowbunny slrpnk.net rainbowbunny@slrpnk.net
Joined: 2024-11-30
#62 · Quote Reply

Pay cash

Wear a mask

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DeckPacker lemmy.world BennyTheExplorer@lemmy.world
Joined: 2025-07-29
#63 · Quote Reply

On a macro scale I do think the privacy ship has sailed. Seeing the leaked illegal footage in the Guthrie case confirmed that the big tech companies are spying on us, storing the footage permanently, and leaking it to the government covertly upon request. I don't think it's unfair to presume that both ruling parties know and love this, which means we're never turning back that clock. On the loc...

Yeah, I don't think it's reasonable to give up in the face of it.

You should make it as hard as possible for them to track you, use private OpenSource software, advocate for it and don't be afraid if direct action, like destroying these cameras. The more people that do it, the harder it will be for them to do something about it.

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mmmac lemmy.zip mmmac@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-06-04
#64 · Quote Reply

Just gonna leave this here for anyone so inclined https://github.com/colonelpanichacks/flock-you

Yeah I'm based in one of the highest density ALPR regions in the country, this would just be going off constantly lol

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exaybachae startrek.website exaybachae@startrek.website
Joined: 2026-02-16
#65 · (edited) Quote Reply

Leave your fucking phone at home too.

Faraday bags work... But test them.

I got a cheapo $7 Chromebook sized bag that seemed to work for my SOs iphone. We don't use NFC so I couldn't test that.

No BT, WiFi, or Cell, and probably no GPS.

I only did casual testing.

The screen still showed the signal having low bars for WiFi and cellular, but it didn't actually receive a signal at all when trying to call or use the net, not even with the top of the bag open a sliver and my hand in there.

If the device was off or in airplane mode and in the bag, I'd be comfortable assuming it was safely hidden from tracking.

I haven't thoroughly tested my various personal devices, but I expect identical results.

I think everyone should probably have a bag like this around, in a go-bag or something, just in case. And it's safer to have your phone available than not, as long as it's secure (use a pin or password to lock it, use encryption, put emergency info on it for first responders).

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exaybachae startrek.website exaybachae@startrek.website
Joined: 2026-02-16
#66 · Quote Reply

Damn that's aluminium, not steel. You can do that with an angle grinder, reciprocating saw, or even a mapp gas torch

I can definitely cut steal with my angle grinder.

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Thu Htoo San programming.dev thuhtoosan@programming.dev
Joined: 2024-09-07
#67 · Quote Reply

Good, fuck this panopticon dystopia shit. Also, some guy sliced the entire pole and left a message: hahaha get wrecked ya surveilling fucks

lol that's so cool!

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Captain Aggravated sh.itjust.works captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works
Joined: 2023-06-20
#68 · Quote Reply

Is there a common quadcopter on the market capable of carrying a paintball gun or something else that can splatter lenses?

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pelespirit sh.itjust.works pelespirit@sh.itjust.works
Joined: 2023-06-14
#69 · Quote Reply

my neighbor hood has one right at the entrance. I make a point of flipping it off every time i pass it. Also, If you were curious how many of these violations of privacy are around you. Here you go- https://deflock.org/map

Well, that's actually better than I thought. I wonder if Seattle got rid of them? Home Depot (Pieces of Shit) and an Amazon building that overlooks the interstate seem to be the only ones in Seattle proper.

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exaybachae startrek.website exaybachae@startrek.website
Joined: 2026-02-16
#70 · Quote Reply

Leave your phone at home. Don't drive your own car there, and don't get an uber. Ride a scooter, bicycle, or walk. Wear a dust mask, headphones (to prevent ear pattern recognition) and safety glasses. Wear a high vis vest while working on the camera. The retro reflective strips show up as dazzling white on infrared cameras, washing out the image. It also helps make any witness assume you're a l...

Yeah, don't say you don't know if you do, that's lying, which is a crime in this situation. You can answer crime related questions with questions (avoidance). But don't do that for everything. If they push, start asking if you're free to go. If they say no, invoke the 5th.

Don't do their jobs for them.

Don't answer any questions that could incriminate you. Or talk to them in general. But be polite when you do speak.

Only tell them your name or provide other required identity information. Don't say where you are going or coming from. Don't explain anything. Don't tell stories. Don't lie.

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RampantParanoia2365 lemmy.world RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-10-02
#71 · Quote Reply

Well, the CEO did openly invite and approve of this. In his own words, Flock cameras aren't forced on anyone. So the only logical conclusion is to destroy them if so desired.

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FlashMobOfOne lemmy.world FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-12
#72 · Quote Reply

Yeah, I don't think it's reasonable to give up in the face of it. You should make it as hard as possible for them to track you, use private OpenSource software, advocate for it and don't be afraid if direct action, like destroying these cameras. The more people that do it, the harder it will be for them to do something about it.

Oh, I do.

I just don't trust the majority to do anything meaningful themselves. It's why recycling doesn't work and why Democrats and Republicans keep getting elected. Our only power now is local.

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exaybachae startrek.website exaybachae@startrek.website
Joined: 2026-02-16
#73 · Quote Reply

As an aside, I’ve been toying with the following idea: I like to refurbish bicycles for my own use. The idea I’ve had is to buy cheap Facebook marketplace / Craigslist bikes, disassemble, grind off the serial, and paint in a uniform and non identifiable (or at least less so) and reassemble, replacing wear parts. Put them into the community to use however they see fit, cheap enough to ditch with...

Community bikes are not a new thing. They had them in my hometown through most of my youth and teen years, and may still. I don't live there anymore. 🙁

They had a strong bike community, and a bike store and repair shop off a main ped/cycle path through town, just outside downtown. It had a lounge and was the primary source of the community bikes and their maintenance.

Paint the bikes all a similar bright color, not white, and get stickers made with info about use and contact info for pickup and repair.

Like, "I'm a community bike, use me as you like, leave me somewhere responsibly when you're done with me, so somebody else can use me too. Contact for pickup or repairs 555 RIDE 4ME"

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blitzen lemmy.ca blitzen@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2023-06-10
#74 · Quote Reply

Community bikes are not a new thing. They had them in my hometown through most of my youth and teen years, and may still. I don't live there anymore. 🙁 They had a strong bike community, and a bike store and repair shop off a main ped/cycle path through town, just outside downtown. It had a lounge and was the primary source of the community bikes and their maintenance. Paint the bikes all a simi...

Thank you for that. I love it. But can I ask why paint a bright color? I would think flat black is what the current environment calls for.

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akilou sh.itjust.works akilou@sh.itjust.works
Joined: 2023-08-03
#75 · Quote Reply

Also https://github.com/colonelpanichacks/flock-you Edit: For the people confused, you install the firmware onto a OUI-SPY device, which will buzz when it detects the presence of Flock and other networks, and logs the location using your phones GPS, which can then be exported and submitted to the Deflock database.

What am I supposed to do with this?

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☂️- lemmy.ml umbrella@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2023-07-12
#76 · (edited) Quote Reply

Paint ball guns with permanent ink ammunition works too.
[deleted]
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NatakuNox lemmy.world NatakuNox@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-07-07
#77 · Quote Reply

Wear a mask

And smoke a little grass?

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testaccount372920 piefed.zip testaccount372920@piefed.zip
Joined: 2026-01-26
#78 · Quote Reply

Dress like an ice agent (but only for a brief moment please)

You mean wear something generic, unidentifiable and add some body armor?

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minorkeys lemmy.world minorkeys@lemmy.world
Joined: 2024-07-12
#79 · Quote Reply

This behavior from companies is so predictable that I'm perpetually disappointed in my fellow human beings for ever buying this equipment.

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Jumbie lemmy.zip Jumbie@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-08-08
#80 · Quote Reply

In reply to an earlier post

Can you share the email draft? How does one convince a bunch of (most likely) MAGA morons to restrict doorbell cams? They love surveillance and ICE.

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DeckPacker lemmy.world BennyTheExplorer@lemmy.world
Joined: 2025-07-29
#81 · Quote Reply

Oh, I do. I just don't trust the majority to do anything meaningful themselves. It's why recycling doesn't work and why Democrats and Republicans keep getting elected. Our only power now is local.

Yup. And also we should advocate for our rights more locally. Organize with other people, raise awareness and do direct action.

I think the most effective form of resistance is relationships and new local organisations and new structures that resist the forces of the state and of capitalism.

If you are looking for some ideas, maybey you can look here or do your own research.

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Jumbie lemmy.zip Jumbie@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-08-08
#82 · Quote Reply

In reply to an earlier post

I have no idea what any of this does or how I’m supposed to make it work for me.

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ToTheGraveMyLove sh.itjust.works ToTheGraveMyLove@sh.itjust.works
Joined: 2026-01-29
#83 · Quote Reply

I have no idea what any of this does or how I’m supposed to make it work for me.

See edit.

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ToTheGraveMyLove sh.itjust.works ToTheGraveMyLove@sh.itjust.works
Joined: 2026-01-29
#84 · Quote Reply

What am I supposed to do with this?

See edit.

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Imgonnatrythis sh.itjust.works Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works
Joined: 2023-09-23
#85 · Quote Reply

You mean wear something generic, unidentifiable and add some body armor?

Yeah but skip the axe body spray so people know you aren't really an ice agent.

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kent_eh lemmy.ca kent_eh@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2023-06-06
#86 · Quote Reply

Is there a common quadcopter on the market capable of carrying a paintball gun or something else that can splatter lenses?

Another, lower tech option that gets the job done.

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kent_eh lemmy.ca kent_eh@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2023-06-06
#87 · Quote Reply

In reply to an earlier post

Also

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Captain Aggravated sh.itjust.works captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works
Joined: 2023-06-20
#88 · Quote Reply

Another, lower tech option that gets the job done.

With a radio control drone you, your face and your smart phone can be a quarter mile away. Plus, have you been in aerial combat? I haven't. Yet.

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Auli lemmy.ca Auli@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2023-06-17
#89 · Quote Reply

In reply to an earlier post

Seems to be an American thing only.

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Auli lemmy.ca Auli@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2023-06-17
#90 · Quote Reply

In reply to an earlier post

Ehh then your destroying a persons property. And they might not know how bad they are.

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frongt lemmy.zip frongt@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-07-31
#91 · Quote Reply

Community bikes are not a new thing. They had them in my hometown through most of my youth and teen years, and may still. I don't live there anymore. 🙁 They had a strong bike community, and a bike store and repair shop off a main ped/cycle path through town, just outside downtown. It had a lounge and was the primary source of the community bikes and their maintenance. Paint the bikes all a simi...

It's going to get picked up by a kid or a drunk guy and end up in the nearest body of water.

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Imgonnatrythis sh.itjust.works Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works
Joined: 2023-09-23
#92 · Quote Reply

Anyone know of a good form letter / well written petition to request an operator such as an hoa remove a flock camera before resorting tk this?

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Agent641 lemmy.world Agent641@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-07-12
#93 · Quote Reply

Faraday bags work... But test them. I got a cheapo $7 Chromebook sized bag that seemed to work for my SOs iphone. We don't use NFC so I couldn't test that. No BT, WiFi, or Cell, and probably no GPS. I only did casual testing. The screen still showed the signal having low bars for WiFi and cellular, but it didn't actually receive a signal at all when trying to call or use the net, not even with ...

If you're going to use a Faraday bag, use it regularly, like every day at random times.

Imagine you are being accused of a crime. The crime occured at 8pm. The phone records show that your phone went dark at your house 7pm and then reconnected at 9pm at your house. The crime scene is 1 hour away from your home by foot. Records show this is the only time your phone went dark in a very long time.

So if you bag your phone (aluminium foil bags work pretty good too), do it regularly, randomly, and don't bag it and unbag it immediately before leaving or after getting home

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TheObviousSolution lemmy.ca TheObviousSolution@lemmy.ca
Joined: 2025-06-25
#94 · Quote Reply

Fuck centralized surveillance.

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Jumbie lemmy.zip Jumbie@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-08-08
#95 · Quote Reply

See edit.

Thank you. That helps immensely.

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partofthevoice lemmy.zip partofthevoice@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-10-26
#96 · Quote Reply

Yeah, I was actually thinking about acquiring one myself. I want to dissect it, hook it up to some monitoring equipment/ software, see what I can learn about it… functionality, vulnerability, anything. But I’m also worried about the potential I accidentally show up on a video feed stored somewhere remote. I’ve been checking eBay for them, but honestly… there are several right by my home. We’ll see what happens, in time.

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partofthevoice lemmy.zip partofthevoice@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-10-26
#97 · Quote Reply

panopticon Great word choice.

It’s quite common to hear we’re living in a digital panopticon. See modern philosophers.

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jaschen306 sh.itjust.works jaschen306@sh.itjust.works
Joined: 2025-06-09
#98 · Quote Reply

Would a pellet gun be powerful enough to damage the lens from a distance?

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ToTheGraveMyLove sh.itjust.works ToTheGraveMyLove@sh.itjust.works
Joined: 2026-01-29
#99 · Quote Reply

Thank you. That helps immensely.

Np!

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caboose2006 lemmy.world caboose2006@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-07-01
#100 · Quote Reply

Benn Jordan has done great videos on this stuff

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Gammelfisch lemmy.world Gammelfisch@lemmy.world
Joined: 2024-09-05
#101 · Quote Reply

Seems to be an American thing only.

China and the UK lead the surveillance world.

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