DIY ESP32 Detects Surveillance Infrastructure #shorts
The short version: STS Technologies LLC shows off a DIY ESP32 gadget that sniffs out ALPR and surveillance gear, putting detection tech in regular people's hands.
Our Take
There's something fitting about a hobbyist-grade ESP32 board being turned into a tool for spotting the surveillance infrastructure that's quietly multiplying on streetlights and intersections. STS Technologies LLC, the team behind the FlockYou devices, is part of a growing DIY counter-surveillance scene that treats detection as a civic skill rather than a specialty reserved for security researchers.
This matters because Flock Safety and similar ALPR systems were deployed with almost no public debate in most towns. Most residents have no idea how many cameras are logging their plates, where they are, or who has access to that data. Cheap, open hardware that can flag nearby surveillance gear flips the information asymmetry a little bit back toward the public, even if it's just a short demo video.
We're not in the business of selling hardware, but we are in the business of mapping where this stuff actually lives. Check our camera map to see what's been documented near you, and if you're ready to push back locally, our take-action page has concrete steps for city council meetings and public records requests.
This is DeFlock The USA’s original commentary. The video above is the work of STS Technologies LLC, published on YouTube — full credit to the creator.