Investigating Flock: America's Mass Surveillance Company

Introduction to Flock Safety [00:00]

• Journalists Tommy G and Ben Jordan investigate Flock Safety, a company installing surveillance cameras in neighborhoods.
• They note the company's mission to eliminate crime and the widespread presence of their cameras.
• The investigation aims to uncover Flock's practices and potential privacy implications.

  Folks, I'm currently being stopped by police for doing a story on mass surveillance and a company that are putting cameras in your neighborhood, Flock Safety.

Flock Safety's Business and Privacy Concerns [01:02]

• Tommy G introduces himself as a journalist investigating Flock Safety cameras.
• Ben Jordan states Flock has installed over 100,000 cameras across America.
• They plan to investigate Flock employees and the invasiveness of data gathering.

  If you go to Google or Flock's own website, the address of their corporate headquarters will lead you to an empty building.

Allegations of Misuse and Abuse [03:42]

• The video highlights cases where Flock cameras were allegedly abused by law enforcement.
• A former Milwaukee police officer used the system to stalk an ex-girlfriend.
• A police chief in Illinois used Flock to stalk ex-partners.

  For example, earlier this year in Florida, a sheriff who was working a side security job for a film set started hitting on an actress and repeatedly approached her even after she told him that she had a boyfriend.

Corporate Secrecy and Lack of Transparency [05:18]

• The journalists find Flock's corporate headquarters address is kept private and their building has no company logo.
• They attempt to film Flock employees' license plates to analyze data gathering invasiveness.
• Flock did not respond to interview requests.

  So, it appears no company logo on their building?

Questionable Evidence and False Hits [06:08]

• The video presents instances where Flock's "clear evidence" led to wrongful accusations and arrests.
• A man was jailed after being mistakenly linked to a carjacking.
• Another individual's car was falsely flagged as stolen, leading to a dangerous encounter.

  Look no further than California where a man spent almost a month in jail after he was mistakenly tied to a carjacking even though he was 5 mi away.

Public Opinion and Cost [06:29]

• The cost of Flock cameras is discussed, both in terms of city council approval and potential lawsuits.
• A poll shows 94% of respondents do not want Flock cameras in their city.
• The financial burden on taxpayers is highlighted.

  Folks, this is something you're going to pay for on both sides.

Allegations of Monitoring Children [07:30]

• A whistleblower claims Flock employees and police monitored children at a Jewish community center.
• A Flock vice president allegedly viewed footage from a daycare's gymnastics room.
• Flock claims this was for a sales demonstration, but the city denies a related agreement.

  This includes a Flock vice president looking at a private third-party security camera in the little girl's gymnastics room at my son's daycare.

Attempts to Locate Flock's New Headquarters [09:02]

• The journalists discover Flock Safety has moved its office to a new location in Buckhead.
• They visit the old office, finding it empty, and are directed to the new space.
• Flock employees and security are evasive when approached for interviews.

  They moved out?

Flock's Privacy Stance and Data Practices [12:12]

• Real estate records reveal Flock's new headquarters at The Medici.
• The company's emphasis on privacy is contrasted with their data collection practices.
• Concerns are raised about Flock Nova, which combines online data with personal information.

  You have this $7 billion company, and and you don't want people to know where your office is located.

Law Enforcement Perspectives [16:11]

• The video contrasts public concerns with law enforcement views on Flock cameras.
• An ICE operation using a Flock competitor led to civil rights violations.
• Some law enforcement officials express that Flock cameras make their cities safer and help solve crimes.

  Without a doubt, it makes it safer. I I wouldn't know what to do without it.

Security Vulnerabilities and Investor Ties [18:09]

• Marc Andreessen, a major investor in Flock, has past ties to privacy scandals.
• Concerns are raised about Flock's potential IPO and future financial liabilities.
• Security researchers reported vulnerabilities to Flock, but received NDAs instead of payment.

  Marc Andreessen, whose venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz is Flock's biggest institutional investor, was just appointed by the Pentagon to their Defense Policy Board.

Drone Operations and Secret Facilities [27:52]

• The journalists investigate a suspected Flock drone facility.
• They note the lack of company signage and the use of shadow names for operations.
• The facility appears heavily guarded, raising further questions about its purpose.

  This is the most heavily guarded construction company.

Confrontation and Police Involvement [32:21]

• Police are called when journalists attempt to surveil a Flock facility.
• Flock employees express discomfort with being filmed and call the police.
• The journalists are detained, raising questions about their rights and the police response.

  Cops are here.

Legal and Ethical Concerns [37:17]

• A public records request for police reports related to the detention is initially rejected.
• Flock's PR team is critical of the journalists' methods, questioning their fairness.
• The company's response to security vulnerability reports is highlighted as non-transparent.

  So, to give you a comparison of how security vulnerability reporting usually works, when I found a mild encryption vulnerability in Ring cameras or vulnerabilities in surveillance robots, the companies immediately reached out to me and offered to pay me to help them document and mitigate the problems.

Conclusion and Call to Action [42:01]

• The journalists emphasize the importance of citizens staying informed and asking questions.
• They encourage viewers to research Flock Safety and its implications.
• The video concludes by highlighting the ongoing debate about surveillance technology and its impact on society.

  Keep learning, keep reading, keep asking questions. That's our duty as a citizen, and we'll see you at the next story.