DO NOT DO THIS TO FLOCK CAMERAS! That Would Be Wrong!
The short version: Jake Shields and RangoTalksPolitics use a tongue-in-cheek "don't do this" framing to talk about tampering with Flock cameras, reflecting growing public frustration with ALPR surveillance.
Our Take
Jake Shields' Fight Back Podcast, with guest RangoTalksPolitics, leans into a wink-and-nod title to talk about what people allegedly shouldn't do to Flock Safety cameras. Credit to them for putting a voice to something we hear constantly from readers: people are angry, and some are fantasizing about taking matters into their own hands. That anger is understandable — these cameras log your plate, your location, and your movements, often without a public vote or a chance to opt out.
But vigilante responses are a trap. They make great headlines for Flock and local police, who can point to "attacks on public safety infrastructure" to justify expanding the network, adding tamper sensors, or pushing for harsher penalties. Meanwhile the underlying problem — a private company building a de facto national plate-tracking system with minimal oversight — goes untouched. The fight against mass surveillance is won in city council meetings, public records requests, and organized pushback, not in the dark with a pair of pliers.
If you want to actually do something that moves the needle, start by finding out where these cameras are near you on our map, then use our take-action resources to push your local government for transparency, audits, or outright removal. That's the version of "don't do this" worth following.
This is DeFlock The USA’s original commentary. The video above is the work of Jake Shields' Fight Back Podcast, published on YouTube — full credit to the creator.