Keeping Up With The Times

Surveillance Society, Technology

I have often been accused of being an old fuddy-duddy, very set in my ways and against the concept of “change”.

Mostly, I would plead guilty to such charges — and proudly, at that.

However, I am very open to change in one circumstance, that being on the issue of this godless system known as “flocking” — you know, those seemingly-ubiquitous cameras installed to spy on people’s cars and movements thereof.  I proudly created this little picture, in fact (and feel free to copy or pass on, as the mood inspires):

I purposely used the word “grex” (Latin word for flock) because as a generic collective term for sheep, it doesn’t refer to any company or individual.  Also, I’m a cultural snob (likewise by self-admission) and have an abiding fondness for classical allusions.

Anyway.

So great is my hostility to these fucking things that I may once even have suggested a DIY method for their de-installation:

Of course, as any fule kno, this was merely a tongue-in-cheek suggestion because counter-surveillance (cameras spying on cameras — does it ever end?) makes such an action foolish, even though as a curmudgeonly man of the elder demographic, using something as old-fashioned as a shotgun to take down something so horrible and offensively-modern would give me great pleasure.

But no, we should move with the times, methinks, especially when contemplating the “delenda” part of the above suggestion.  So how about something like a “loitering munition“?  (I love that particular euphemism, by the way.)

Now, this is also a tongue-in-cheek suggestion, because it’s easy to see that objects like this are waaayyyy overkill — there’s no need for a loiter function, for example, and given the typical fragility of a small camera device, there’s no need for any munitions, per se.  Even a kamikaze drone (as used by the military) would be overkill, for the same reasons — and in both cases, too spendy for Mr. Average Citizen to use.

So looking at the matter from a clinical perspective, there’s no need for such things.

But blessed as we are by living in the U.S. of A., there are always other options, such as this one, at only $40 per pop (so to speak):


(link in pic)

I would imagine that an accidental collision between a flocking camera and a drone controlled by a fumbling amateur first-time user might indeed compromise the camera’s operation somewhat.

If you see what I mean.

Progress:  not always a Bad Thing, no?

13 comments

  1. Ah, the land of the free. Where people are free to set up mass surveillance systems that record everyone (else)’s movements and actions in detail.
    When in most other countries such wouldn’t just need a license, it’d be utterly illegal even for law enforcement agencies.

  2. Many years ago, the authorities made the mistake of putting up a traffic camera next to a school. The kids delighted in covering it with bin bags.

  3. what air rifle is best for adjusting these nosy cameras? a shotgun would be too loud in some areas. And drones at $40 each would be an expensive method of adjustment?

  4. Slingshots/Wrist Rockets would seem to be a good response to these things. Quiet, cheap, and probably effective.

  7. I wonder if a green laser could be attached to a consumer drone.
    Fly up to a camera…what camera….not sure…just a generic camera….and burn out the sensor.

  8. Flock cameras ARE change, you know, the filthy liberal kind. >:-[

    I’m thinking some enterprising young fellow might be able to rig a drone to fire a can of spray paint, for painting his barn or such elevated structures.

  10. But “grex” is masculine, so shouldn’t your caption read “grex delendus est”?

  11. I really wish this was more commonly known… the flock cam thing is just the insignificant tip of the iceberg. There are way more companies installing wifi readers than there are flock cameras. Around where I live in N Texas, these look like 3″x5″x1″ white or gray boxes, kinda like a WIFI speaker, installed on traffic lights, street lights or telephone poles. Usually places that already have power to them. They record every WIFI AND Bluetooth signal that passes. Your vehicle, your phone, your smart watch, your kids phone, your friends gear. All of it. They have no need to point obtrusive cameras at you, they know every single signal that passes by. We manage to do away with flock cameras? No biggie, they don’t care about the obvious, they got your ass ten ways from Sunday anyway. I fear this is a battle already lost.

  12. I really wish this was more commonly known… the flock cam thing is just the insignificant tip of the iceberg. There are way more companies installing wifi readers than there are flock cameras. Around where I live in N Texas, these look like 3″x5″x1″ white or gray boxes, kinda like a WIFI speaker, installed on traffic lights, street lights or telephone poles. Usually places that already have power to them. They record every WIFI AND Bluetooth signal that passes. Your vehicle, your phone, your smart watch, your kids phone, your wife’s gear. All of it. They have no need to point obtrusive cameras at you, they know every single signal that passes by. We manage to do away with flock cameras? No biggie, they don’t care about the obvious, they got your ass ten ways from Sunday anyway. I fear this is a battle already lost.

  13. So Flock has been used by corrupt cops, therefore Flock bad.

    This is too close to defund the police to enjoy my support. Only three things in life are inevitable, death, taxes, and corrupt cops.

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