Flock cameras

[ironyak]

Obie - 1 for sure is Motorola and not Flock.
Which is noted in the dataset.

Lots of people just use Flock as a synonym for any Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) camera, an example of a proprietary eponym, like kleenex for tissue paper. The community complaints, which HPD will hear plenty more of during their planned listening sessions, aren't specific just to Flock, but also apply to Axon, etc.

Have to see if County Council decides to weigh in on this statewide push for mass surveillance.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Mixed messages from Honolulu police. They shared license plate info with the IRS. What’s that about?
They also seem to be rethinking their use of ALPR.

The public controversy over Flock has registered with HPD, Assistant Chief Brian Lynch said.
“We’re not touching Flock,” he said. “We’re avoiding Flock like the plague.”

https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/10/hpd-ma...h-the-irs/

[HiloJulie]

At least for the time being, it appears that, on a positive note, our newly minted Police Chief as well as the new Honolulu Police Chief have their arms around the seriousness of these Flock, or ALPR cameras. 

Quoting Chief Reed from the HTH linked article:

Hawaii Police Department Chief Reed Mahuna told the Tribune-Herald that HPD hasn’t deployed ALPRs — either fixed or mobile — but has a single-digit number of Motorola license plate reader cameras “that are in the box, still wrapped up.”

And then a quote about the Honolulu PD sharing ALPR data with the FBI over 2,000 times

Civil Beat recently reported the Honolulu Police Department has 10 fixed Motorola ALPR cameras and 60 mobile ALPR cameras, which can be deployed in patrol cars, and the department’s former interim chief, Rade Vanic, shared license plate data from Oahu drivers more than 2,000 times with the FBI under a memorandum of agreement — which since has been canceled by its new chief, David Lazar.

(bolding by me for added emphasis)

But, most importantly, as Chief Reed said:

“We are waiting at this point to see what type of legislation comes out of the state Legislature regarding the use of the cameras.

Now, of the various ALPR cameras shown to have been deployed on the Big Island, by private concerns and/or individuals, it would be interesting to know just who and specifically for what, has access to any and all stored data.

[Obie]

Just out of curiosity I did some research and found you can buy the Genetic cameras that are preferred for the Big Island on Ebay.
Here is one seller.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/366127318306

Or you can get a new one with one year of cloud storage for $2395.00 ready to operate.
https://tinyurl.com/3nacr2wh

[Durian Fiend]

But, most importantly, as Chief Reed said:

“We are waiting at this point to see what type of legislation comes out of the state Legislature regarding the use of the cameras.

A federal ban is possible too.    https://www.politico.com/live-updates/20...l-01104847

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Being spied on in Hawaii by Flock cameras, or having your driving info turned over to the IRS is the least of our worries. Foreign intelligence gatherers don’t even need a plane ticket to gather intel. Flock, far from being responsive and correcting this security risk did not seem overly concerned. Probably too busy with new positive spin PR posts for the fear driven among the general public:

“These cameras form a nationwide surveillance network that tracks where everyone drives,” Michael told The Intercept, “so foreign nations don’t need to send spies to harm our country. They can simply watch where our soldiers, federal agents, and politicians go.”

https://theintercept.com/2026/09/24/how-...es-300000/

[HiloJulie]

As Obie points out, anyone can buy an ALPR cam. No regulations whatsoever. And on eBay too. How much more American is that??

So, hypothetical question:

Let's say I move in down the block from you, buy and set up one of these ALPR cams and capture every car's license plate that comes and leaves your house.

You OK with that? And then do you care what it is I could do with the information I now own and control?

I guess the only control or 'guardrails' on these ALPR cams as well as other AI issues we need is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) kind of guy. If only the U.S.A. had that, in spades!

[Punatang]

What comes around - goes around.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncCf00M7Axk

We can all have our own bespoke ALPR cameras. 

I'm going to make mine look like a durian tree and program the AI to catch privileged white guys.  

[Durian Fiend]

What comes around - goes around.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncCf00M7Axk

We can all have our own bespoke ALPR cameras. 

I'm going to make mine look like a durian tree and program the AI to catch privileged white guys.  

LOL.  Aren't all of us white guys privileged?   Perhaps the guys missing, teeth, hunched over pushing shopping carts, sleeping in doorways, etc. would beg to differ.

Since older people such as myself are largely ignored by society, except perhaps for crooks looking to take advantage of a senior, I don't have a problem with your camera or those of anyone else   No one will waste their time checking me out.   

This subject somehow reminds me of a movie called "The end of violence" by Wim Wenders.  Sorry, no spoilers will be provided.

[Punatang]

I don't have a problem with your camera


What if I disguise my camera as 1 Pua'a instead of a durian tree?  Talk about privilege. Those guys are running the place.