Darth Vader speaks in favor of Flock license plate readers at San Diego public meeting
The short version: A Darth Vader-costumed commenter told a San Diego meeting he uses Flock cameras to stalk his ex, accidentally proving critics' point about stalking risks in one absurd public comment.
Our Take
Credit to CBS 8 San Diego for capturing this one, because you couldn't script better evidence for the anti-surveillance case if you tried. A guy in a Darth Vader costume stood up at a San Diego public safety meeting, ostensibly to defend Flock's license plate readers, and casually admitted he uses them to track his ex-girlfriend. The room was there to protest ALPR expansion, and Vader showed up to argue the technology is great — for stalking.
Play this for laughs if you want, but it lands on the exact vulnerability we keep pointing to: these camera networks aren't just tools for cops chasing stolen cars. They're a searchable log of where you drive, when, and how often, and that data doesn't stay locked up as tightly as vendors promise. Abuse by exes, abusive partners, or curious insiders isn't hypothetical — it's been documented in agencies across the country, and now it's been volunteered on camera at a city meeting. When the surveillance apparatus is normalized enough that someone jokes about weaponizing it against a former partner in public comment, that should tell you everything about how casually this data can be misused.
If your city is debating Flock cameras or already has them installed, don't wait for your own local Vader moment to pay attention. Check our map to see what's already watching your streets, and head to take action if you want to push back before the next council vote.
This is DeFlock The USA’s original commentary. The video above is the work of CBS 8 San Diego, published on YouTube — full credit to the creator.