Regretful cities aren’t sure how to cancel their surveillance contracts, so they are literally covering their cameras.

  • rose56@lemmy.zip
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    6 hours ago

    Do also the other thing, where you brake it apart. Same thing, but it’s permanently.

    • Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works
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      17 minutes ago

      I read the beginning of the title as “Cities are Cowering” and now I think it could easily be a part of an alternate title.

      Like your the damn government… Just remove the devices, tell Flock where they can pick them up in the next two weeks otherwise they will be sold as is on open market and pay the termination fee or potential lawsuit. Cities get sued like all the time and I am confident even a moderately competent lawyer could find a cheap way out.

  • addie@feddit.uk
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    8 hours ago

    I’d like to think that the bag is step 1. Step 2 is to balance an old car tire on top, and set it on fire.

      • felbane@lemmy.world
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        59 minutes ago
        1. City installs trash bags because they’re contractually obligated to keep the devices installed and powered on
        2. Someone hosts an impromptu Office Space fan meetup, with a fun reenactment of the printer scene
        3. City sees this, responds with an obvious but legally non-actionable tweet response suggesting it continue (e.g. “Fartsburg loves Mike Judge films, too! So nice to see our citizens enjoying the various forms of recreation and socialization ths city has to offer.”), along with some conspicuously-placed garbage cans near all of the cameras’ installed locations.
        4. ???
        5. (No) Profit. (for Flock)
    • Agent641@lemmy.world
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      5 hours ago

      They don’t just collect video either. Audio, network traffic, Bluetooth devices, tons of electronic intelligence can still be gotten with covered cameras

      • potoooooooo 🥔@lemmy.world
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        5 hours ago

        Really though, don’t do the precious metals part, cuz that’s what will get you caught. Carefully destroying them? Very doable, I strongly suspect.

      • Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world
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        18 hours ago

        Welp. It’s too bad the shitty hotel I used to work at got shut down by the city.

        We had TONS of meth heads that would be very appriciative of that information.

      • Kowowow@lemmy.ca
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        18 hours ago

        I would have bit of extra respect for a youtuber breaking down to get the precious metals out of specifically flok cameras

    • Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works
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      16 minutes ago

      They are the city. They can send public works out there to dismantle the cameras and then send Flock the bill for it, if they are unwilling to dismantle themselves.

  • vagrancyand@sh.itjust.works
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    18 hours ago

    Fun fact the panel, inverter, and battery set up in these do not have any tracking features, that’s all in the internals for the camera controller. It’s enough to charge any smart phone or tablet if someone you know is living outside and should have a need of that. You do not need anything more than a Philips head screwdriver for most versions, and a security bit for others, both of which you can have for pennies at any hardware store.

      • anomnom@sh.itjust.works
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        2 hours ago

        Bring an all metal tool box to put the camera in it. Instant faraday cage.

        Best to open it somewhere that is not frequented by you though, then you can remove the battery and other useful stuff for recycling.

        Or just throw the whole thing in the nearest dumpster and let the garbage company take care of it.

  • otp@sh.itjust.works
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    17 hours ago

    the city was sharing Flock camera data for immigration enforcement

    Ah, these are in American cities.

    apparently on accident,

    Oh yes, definitely American.

    (Yes I know I skipped over the part about Ohio)

    • Pika@sh.itjust.works
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      17 hours ago

      honestly idk why they bothered covering them. just disconnect them… as long as they aren’t damaged I doubt flock could seek anything on it.

      • em2@lemmy.ml
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        14 hours ago

        likely safer if they ever get caught. it’s not damaging property if there’s simply a trash bag over it.