Flock off! America’s newest surveillance technology

Over the past year, the American people have been subjected to one of the worst crimes ever committed against us. It is not a terrorist attack, nor mass killings or anything of the sort. It has been put upon us by our government and a privatized corporation. “Flock Safety” is a laughable name for this company, as it is euphemistically trying to hide the outright villainous agenda it, and our government, has launched. 

Flock Safety, founded in 2017, started slow, but since around 2024, has put up thousands of surveillance cameras powered by artificial intelligence all across the country. Their mission statement is to survey roads, read license plates, track people and send that data to law enforcement. Some may ask themselves, “Is there anything wrong with trying to keep the community safe?” and while that question is not terribly misguided, the ways they are going about this must be understood. Flock has turned roadways into a surveillance grid, which could arguably fall under a Fourth Amendment violation, that being, unlawful searches and seizures. Compiling constant photos of cars, tracking them and using AI to predict and learn human behavior has critics arguing whether this falls under that category. 

In my opinion, this absolutely violates the Constitution. Innocent people should not have to be subjected to being tracked against their will. The roads are for public use, not for the government’s nefarious plot to “keep us in check.” Another notion that may arise from this is, “Well, if you are not doing anything wrong, you should not have anything to worry about.” To that I say, despite the intended use of these cameras simply being to catch criminals, they are being put up in rural roads and areas with little crime or need for surveillance — like parks and recreational areas. How will we know that these cameras will not be exploited in the future, and reshape what is and is not okay? We are already seeing this now, with officers improperly using these to stalk women and other law-abiding citizens for nefarious purposes. While the initial question may have some merit, it logically fails to look beyond a single statement. 

This epidemic has become incredibly ironic, as well. In years past, the United States has leveraged claims against other countries, deeming them “surveillance states.” This country has gone to great lengths to try and label China as such, with their state-wide closed-circuit television usage, making it seem dystopian and unlawful. While this is true, the United States has entered a sort of “pot calling the kettle black” situation, as we are no better. Flock is doing the exact same thing: monitoring the American people, collecting our data, exporting it and using it in an unconstitutional fashion.

This conversation surrounding Flock Safety has eerily similar connections to the infamous novel “1984” by George Orwell, wherein people live in a world monitored by “Big Brother,” an entity that restricts what people can say and do, as well as monitor everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. While in our world, we are still only talking about licence plate readers, how long will it take for that program to expand? How long until private conglomerates, or even our own government, decide that surveillance must be expanded? We already lived through the Obama administration downplaying what had gone on with the National Security Agency, and their global surveillance programs on other states, as well as with American citizens. The difference right now is that current President Donald Trump has outright endorsed Flock Safety, and has acknowledged that despite the backlash, he likes them. We are far past downplaying or cover-ups; the United States is rubbing it in our faces. A new-age Edward Snowden is obsolete when all of these acts are so blatantly out in the open. The only room for an American hero is us as a collective. 

While I am admittedly just a small journalist operating at a school-run newspaper, that does not diminish the fact that my viewpoints are shared by millions of Americans. I believe that now more than ever, our voices must be heard; and not only that, but our actions must be felt. Efforts are already beginning to happen, as several states, ahead of the midterms, are revoking their licenses with the company, after hearing the outcry from the public. Thousands of people are getting out and protesting, be it outside or in the courtrooms. Campaigns are being had, as masked individuals are cutting these cameras down en masse. On social media, Halloween is being dubbed “De-Flock America Day,” as millions of Americans will already be masked and outside, making these efforts to damage these cameras easier. 

While there is hope for the future, it is a David versus Goliath battle for the American people. The days of this country being the “land of the free” are fleeting. As a country, it becomes harder to hold a serious face when calling out other countries and their surveillance policies. Soon, the days when students will have to read “1984” will become obsolete. All they must do is step outside and look around.

Alfie Eville is a sophomore history and secondary education major