Axon says cops are asking it to make its automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) look different from Flock cameras because Flock vandalism has become so widespread, according to comments Axon’s CEO made in a now deleted webinar.
The comments highlight how Axon is trying to take advantage of sustained opposition against Flock’s license plate cameras, with one law enforcement customer suggesting a camera redesign would “help with the optics while we batten down the hatches” as the backlash spreads.
As 404 Media has reported, some towns and cities are switching from Flock to Axon’s cameras after cops did lookups for ICE in Flock, tracked a woman who self-administered an abortion, and have repeatedly abused their access to stalk ex-spouses. ALPRs constantly scan the license plate, brand, model, and other identifying features of all vehicles that drive past the camera and then make this timestamped log of activity searchable by law enforcement without a warrant.
In an August 26 webinar that was hosted on Axon’s official Vimeo page called “From backlash to trust,” Axon Chief Customer Officer Mike Wagers took a question from the remote audience and asked, “is there any talk — and there has been talk — to redesign Outpost, our fixed ALPR camera, to not look exactly like a Flock camera?”
“We are looking at […] do we change the general shape,” Rick Smith, Axon’s CEO, replied. At another point in the webinar, Smith brought up Axon’s Lightpost product, which is an ALPR and AI-powered camera that attaches to an existing streetlight. “Frankly, we’ve had a lot of customers saying, hey, we’d like something that looks different because there is all this blowback. It’s harder to vandalize because it’s up higher,” he said.
Smith also said, “We’ve had some people say they’d like to see us make just a different camera, because our ALPR camera looks like an ALPR camera.” Another idea Smith brought up, pending customer feedback, is to go in the other direction and make ALPRs more explicit, with signs showing where they are located and a description of the city’s ALPR policies.
Doesn’t matter, destroy them anyway.
Doesn’t matter, destroy them anyway.
You going to be able to reach these?
an ALPR and AI-powered camera that attaches to an existing streetlight. “Frankly, we’ve had a lot of customers saying, hey, we’d like something that looks different because there is all this blowback. It’s harder to vandalize because it’s up higher
Maybe a paintball gun? What about a crossbow?
A pruning pull with a rope that lets you hit a taped on spray paint can should do the trick.
Or an RC heli that does similar.
I think a higher powered laser pointer could ruin the camera lens.
Or fry the sensor.
Tons of flock cameras are mounted similarly, Flock just provided the option of the freestanding pole mount to make them more flexible for less built up areas so lots have used those.
Motivation breeds innovation.
I really am hoping for a esp32 hack that we can just force a looped viseo feed into them. Destroying is cool. But disabling them without them knowing. Chef’s kiss.
I heard their security is absolute garbage.
They’re getting better after all the hacks and blowback. Randomized MACs, disabling Bluetooth, transmitting only on activity to hide packet traffic, and using cell as a primary connection.
Which means they’re scared.
I bet someone clever can build a stingray and capture the cell signal.
It! Methheads and crackis…. The new look has more copper. Just saying.
The stupid fuckers who think ALPRs are a good idea are also the stupid fuckers that think that the public only hate Flock ALPRs.
They can’t understand that the public hate all ALPRs.
They can’t understand that the public hate all ALPRs.
Oh no, they 100% understand that. They are betting on more obfuscation of the installations being enough to fool the idiot public into thinking they’re not being tracked.
It is amazing how stupid people assume everyone else is as stupid as them. Dunning-Kruger effect in full force.
The problem is a lot of people really are that stupid. That’s what gets us into these messes.
They don’t get that the only winning move PR-wise is to drop those cameras and work on transparency.
Cops: people are attacking them because they are black
People: what?
Cops: it’s what we would do…
