this post was submitted on 28 May 2026
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Regretful cities aren't sure how to cancel their surveillance contracts, so they are literally covering their cameras.

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[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 5 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Article reminded me that some people say "by accident" (me) and some say "on accident" (my cousins).

[–] jobbies@lemmy.zip 1 points 15 hours ago

Thats a journalist though. They should know better.

[–] W3dd1e@lemmy.zip 14 points 1 day ago (1 children)

This is an better idea. I was going to shoot them with a paintball gun.

[–] ilinamorato@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

iirc, paintball marker is slightly translucent, right? So maybe like...a sticker?

[–] W3dd1e@lemmy.zip 5 points 22 hours ago (3 children)

Some of the cameras by me are a little high up, which is why initially I thought paintball.

I bet I could fly a drone with a trash bag over it though.

[–] ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net 8 points 20 hours ago

One of those spray-can extension poles would probably work pretty well.

[–] Widdershins@lemmy.world 3 points 18 hours ago

My neighbor used to put marbles in his paintball gun

[–] glitch1985@lemmy.world 4 points 21 hours ago

Must have been a scary ghost that disabled those spy cameras.

[–] MrKoyun@lemmy.world 18 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (5 children)

Why aren't they just... Removing them?

Oh. Its probably because removing them is unnecessarily complicated so they need the company to come do it for them.

[–] frostysauce@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago (2 children)

If you had read the article you'd know that the cities aren't sure if they can remove them under the terms of their contracts with flock. So they're covering them while working that out.

[–] CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works 7 points 20 hours ago

I'm pretty sure one city did remove them and then Flock just came and put new ones up which is what lead to the trash bags.

[–] INHALE_VEGETABLES@aussie.zone 2 points 20 hours ago (1 children)
[–] SethTaylor@lemmy.world 1 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Why read all article when some article good enough?

What am I? Some kind of readist? A phisosopher?

[–] INHALE_VEGETABLES@aussie.zone 2 points 15 hours ago

READING FOR NERDS

[–] bold_atlas@lemmy.world 25 points 1 day ago (3 children)

You don't have to worry about a complicated removal if you have an angle grinder.

[–] lando55@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 day ago

You'd be surprised how few worries I have when I'm brandishing an angle grinder

[–] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

on a totally unrelated topic, but harbor freight is a great place to get affordable tools.

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[–] caboose2006@lemmy.world 2 points 17 hours ago

Just read the headline. Good

[–] NehpetsDoom@lemmy.zip 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Trash bags just do that sometimes...

[–] glitch1985@lemmy.world 3 points 21 hours ago

Getting the plastic bag scene from American Beauty vibes.

[–] roserose56@lemmy.zip 31 points 1 day ago (2 children)

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

[–] vapordays@leminal.space 6 points 1 day ago

Or accelerate it apart

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day 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.

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago

I'm surprised Dayton is doing even that. It's a low bar, sure, but it's also Dayton.

[–] empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 183 points 2 days ago (3 children)

I 100% guarantee that "deactivated" cameras are still operational. It's just not the City getting the data.

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 36 points 1 day ago (3 children)

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

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

seems like they should use those metallic ballon type bags.

[–] M137@lemmy.today 1 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Don't think they'll do much against the audio, but that seems like it won't be much use by itself. Though that doesn't matter, it's the principle that matters, they shouldn't be allowed to record audio like that no matter how useless it is.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 1 points 17 hours ago

figured more for wireless stuff. I was under the impression mylar acted like a faraday cage. also I imagine the crinkled reflection would be that much more annoying for the camera. I bet it would crinkle a bit to distorting noise stuff.

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[–] iThinkDifferentThanU@lemmy.world 75 points 2 days ago (9 children)

Heard lots of precious metals in them, wink wink, nudge, nudge, and all that then LoL

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[–] sureshot0@discuss.online 1 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

News to me. I wonder when, if ever, I will see this in real life.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 7 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

You don't have any trash bags?

[–] sureshot0@discuss.online 7 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

I've never seen anyone covering Flock cameras nor have I ever seen an average person break a minor law without severe live-ruining repercussions. I have only ever heard of rich people breaking major laws without repercussions.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 4 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

You don't hear about it because they haven't been caught. Then again, we're talking about covering up a camera... 🤔

Wear a mask and clothing you have never been seen in before that you can dispose of afterward. Maybe use stilts so they'll be looking for a really tall fucker.

[–] sureshot0@discuss.online 4 points 19 hours ago

No, I mean I have never seen a flock camera with a bag over it.

[–] StupidBrotherInLaw@lemmy.world 1 points 15 hours ago

One can also purchase aerosol can extension poles for use with spray paint.

[–] vagrancyand@sh.itjust.works 109 points 1 day ago (10 children)

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.

[–] InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world 71 points 1 day ago

Some flock stuff has microphones so avoid talking during the maintenance session 😜

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[–] Sirdubdee@piefed.social 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I wonder how safe the poles are, compared to well tested road signs that are up. Those easily break off when hit. Will you end up with a solar panel through your windshield in an accident? I feel like one good lawsuit could make Flock have to replace every one of them if a lawyer can convince 12 people that they are a physical danger.

[–] Killer@lemmy.world 2 points 18 hours ago

I've seen multiple videos showing they aren't installed properly and won't break away.

[–] anon_8675309@lemmy.world 37 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Makes them more easily identifiable so they can be properly disposed of.

[–] GioGioMioGio@feddit.org 4 points 1 day ago

I guess technically they already are in a trashbag.

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