Darth Vader supports Flock cameras at San Diego council meeting
The short version: A Darth Vader impersonator's joke about the Empire loving Flock cameras at a San Diego council meeting says more about mass surveillance than the punchline lets on.
Our Take
Credit to KING 5 Seattle for capturing the moment: a man in a full Darth Vader costume told San Diego City Council that "the emperor is a fan of Flock," and honestly, the bit writes itself. A galaxy-spanning surveillance empire endorsing a network of always-on license plate cameras isn't satire so much as a pretty accurate metaphor. The joke lands because it's true — Flock's pitch to city councils across the country is essentially "trust us, we're the good guys with the death star."
What's actually notable here isn't the costume, it's the venue. Council chambers are where these contracts get rubber-stamped, often with minimal public scrutiny and vague promises about "solving crime." A guy in a cape getting laughs is a reminder that ALPR expansion keeps sailing through on vibes and vendor demos rather than hard evidence about privacy tradeoffs, data retention, or who else gets access to that plate data down the line. The bit is funny. The vote that follows usually isn't.
If your city is quietly adding Flock cameras to intersections near you, it's worth knowing before council does the deciding for you. Check our camera map to see what's already been deployed nearby, and visit our take-action page if you want to show up to your own council meeting — costume optional.
This is DeFlock The USA’s original commentary. The video above is the work of KING 5 Seattle, published on YouTube — full credit to the creator.