US Flock Cameras contain valuable gold and copper
The short version: A YouTube creator notes Flock ALPR units contain valuable metals, a reminder that these surveillance boxes are physical objects, not just abstract data collectors.
Our Take
Credit to the channel Digital ID, Mass Surveillance and Digital Currency for pointing out something most privacy coverage skips over: these cameras are hardware, bolted to poles, built with copper wiring and gold-plated contacts like any other piece of consumer electronics. It's a strange angle, but it's a useful reminder that Flock units aren't some untouchable cloud abstraction — they're physical boxes sitting on public infrastructure, with real components, real supply chains, and real vulnerabilities.
We're not in the business of encouraging anyone to go mess with hardware, and we won't pretend to know the legal or safety specifics of what happens if someone does. But the video does underline a point we make constantly: these devices get installed with little public input, often on utility poles or street signs, and most residents have no idea what's tracking them or who owns the box doing it. Knowing what's in the device is one thing. Knowing where the devices are is the bigger first step.
If you want to see what's actually been deployed near you, start with our camera map, and if you'd rather push back through your city council or state legislature than think about scrap value, check out our take-action resources.
This is DeFlock The USA’s original commentary. The video above is the work of Digital ID, Mass Surveillance and Digital Currency, published on YouTube — full credit to the creator.