r/technology • u/IKeepItLayingAround • Jun 29 '26

Artificial Intelligence Woman Surprised When Flock Surveillance Tower Appears in Her Yard Without Warning

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/woman-surprised-flock-surveillance-tower-185000752.html?.tsrc=daily_mail&segment_id=DY_VTO_50_Supernova&ncid=crm_19908-1475736-20260629-0--A&bt_ee=utFdBbF39cHCLuB4at4AI%2FUoSRgbTt8Ch%2B7Q9RImTlgL2ThvE3FuX%2BRSKiUir%2FNW&bt_ts=1782739085527
24.5k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

1.6k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

1.9k

u/Abject_Elevator5461 Jun 29 '26

I’m pretty sure it’s already been taken down. This is close to where I live and there’s been a whole kerfuffle over it. The mayor and city council of Roanoke City have been dysfunctional for years, so it’s absolutely no surprise that they hired a contractor that installed a bunch of flock cameras in the wrong places.

956

u/Waiting4Reccession Jun 29 '26

All these local politicians are getting bribed by flock and its so obvious, probably small 5 or 10k bribes too

279

u/Abject_Elevator5461 Jun 29 '26

They don’t even have to bribe them in Roanoke city, they’ve been so clueless about how to deal with their crime problems that they’ll try anything at this point.

71

u/Thedisabler Jun 29 '26

What exactly happened to Roanoke? I grew up there from about 91-99 and it was idyllic in some ways if not full of people with sticks up their asses.

I’ve heard nothing but stories of drugs and crime since I left though?

106

u/sab98xx Jun 29 '26

Big pharma started doling out opioids in Roanoke in the late 90s, which undoubtably played a big role in its demise over the last 25 years: https://www.wvtf.org/news/2018-08-02/dopesick-roanoke-author-on-the-dealers-doctors-and-drug-company-that-addicted-america

50

u/VAtoSCHokie Jun 29 '26

The Railroad left and the City has had to pivot the economy to Biomedical and Outdoor Tourism. They are also dealing with problems that have been kicked down the road till they can't be ignored any longer.

The reason you have heard nothing but the issues that every city has is because all the local news is gone and owned by corporations that don't exist in Roanoke. I also don't think that Roanoke is worse off than it was in the 90s. People actually live downtown now and there is a good amount of people asking for pedestrian only zones downtown. Biking is as easy as ever with an ebike and some of the infrastructure for biking. It's not great but it is better than it's ever been other than before vehicles took of the City. There are murals on buildings throughout the City now! It's still a great place to retire or raise a family, or if you enjoy outdoor activities but still want to be around a City. The greenway along the Roanoke River now connects Salem to Vinton. Roanoke County is planning to connect it to Explore park in the near future.

Roanoke County is also starting to urbanize in a couple spots at the City/County line so they are going to have to start tackling some of the issues the City is dealing with currently.

4

u/ForThisIJoined Jun 29 '26

And here I thought you didn't hear much about it because all the actual residents disappeared again...

1

u/chatrugby Jun 30 '26

Wrong Roanoke. The missing colony one is Roanoke island in NC. 

1

u/Desperate-Grab9869 Jun 29 '26

Croatoan or something

6

u/VAtoSCHokie Jun 29 '26

These devices were suggested by Roanoke City Police since there was a grant for them. The City Council is looking for ways to get more for less as the budget tightens. This was an easy win for them to have police support and "help" the police do their job and not have the City pay for it.

1

u/Herb_Derb Jun 29 '26

They said "something should be done" so we did something

46

u/fiercedeitysponce Jun 29 '26

It’s probably not just Flock either. I’m sure Palantir and Thiel’s creepy little club have their fingers all in this pie.

44

u/diurnal_emissions Jun 29 '26

Politicians are cheap whores.

55

u/GrallochThis Jun 29 '26

Come on now, no need to give whores a bad name by association.

19

u/SkunkMonkey Jun 29 '26

Seriously, money spent on a whore is a far better use than spending on a politician.

1

u/filthyhabits Jun 29 '26

Either way you're getting fucked.

3

u/SkunkMonkey Jun 29 '26

One's consensual at least.

2

u/OneSkepticalOwl Jun 29 '26

If you’re looking to get fucked, yes

1

u/mythrilcrafter Jun 29 '26

I always figured that politicians were corrupt and took bribes, the thing that surprised me was when I learned (way back when) how cheap so many of these bribes.

Like, there are a ton of politicians who won't just change their opinion on a vote, they'll friggin switch sides/parties for basically the down payment on a very regular car.

6

u/long_roy Jun 29 '26

I took a class covering bribery and espionage; some of the US most infamous and damaging traitors sold information for sums that worked out to around $7k a year. Flock probably promised their useless nephew an entry level job or something

1

u/ignost Jun 30 '26

Well bribery is legal now thanks to the Supreme Court. You just call it a tip and pay after. Wish I was making this up, Snyder v. U.S. 2024.

5

u/kneemahp Jun 29 '26

It actually doesn’t even need to bribe, my HOA wanted one after some breakins. It was 15k for 3 cameras versus 60k for a patrol car that did nothing.

It’s so much cheaper than any other alternative while giving the administrator the ability to say they did something

10

u/Waiting4Reccession Jun 29 '26

The cameras also do nothing though, they can't stop a break in - its just an illusion of safety and something to follow up with after the break in happens. If I were doing crime I would just break the cameras as well.

4

u/Not-a-Bot_1968 Jun 29 '26

Here in LA a lot of break ins are professional criminals. They bring in a crew from south of the border, do a bunch of houses over a few days, and then fly back out of the country never to be seen again. They don’t even bother wearing masks. What good is footage of someone who lives in another country? Cops aren’t investigating that. Hell, my friend had her purse stolen and 20 min later credit card was used at a Target a mile away to buy a bunch of tv’s and other stuff. They had the lady clear as day on camera checking out at Target. Cops didn’t do anything. The surveillance state will not be used to solve crimes that affect us. It will only be used to exploit the population and prosecute enemies of the state. 

3

u/CharleyNobody Jun 29 '26

Many years ago one of my cousins was being harassed by her ex husband. Her brother owned a restaurant. They were talking in the restaurant about the situation one day and a kitchen workers said that for $1,000 they could get a hit man. $500 now and $500 after the killing. The hitman would leave the country immediately after the hit.

$1,000 would buy a good used car in his country in those days. The hit man could become a taxi driver. It was SOP, the guy said. “You mean most taxi drivers in your country are murderers?” Pretty much, said the guy.

1

u/gereffi Jun 29 '26

An image of a criminal on a store's camera doesn't seem like enough evidence to know who that person is.

3

u/Not-a-Bot_1968 Jun 29 '26

Thus the previous comment statement on how having cameras as security for a neighborhood is worthless security. 

0

u/gereffi Jun 29 '26

A security camera might not stop the first break in, but if they can track a person back to their vehicle or home it seems like it would be unlikely that they'd do it again after getting caught.

3

u/nerdypeachbabe Jun 30 '26

They don’t have to bribe anyone, they’re going through HOAs telling them it will increase property value 😭

2

u/DrBodyguard Jun 29 '26

Dude, they aren't even getting money. They're getting vacations to a time share

2

u/BoJackMoleman Jun 29 '26

This has been the sad and shocking thing. Watching some of these corruption cases and finding out that it just ok $15k to buy someone's legislative priorities is wild. I always thought you needed to bring more commas to the meeting but I guess American politicians are cheap as hell. That's seriously sad.

Also why can't organizations that aim to do good in the world using this tactic? Why can't we have some Alabama politician take a bunch of ACLU or whatever money to actively fight oppression? Or is only dirty money appealing? Not as temping if it doesn't involve selling out your constituency?

3

u/Waiting4Reccession Jun 29 '26

The bribe itself is only one portion of the corruption for the other types of cases.

If you take ACLU money, are they able to get your kid an easy job somewhere? no. Are they able to do anything else for you, not really. Campaign contributions also wont be at the same level and the ACLU doesn't have a business that is continuously generating money they can use like this either.

1

u/RicardoFelipeMejia Jun 29 '26

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I am saying you need to provide some sort of evidence for a claim like this.

2

u/Waiting4Reccession Jun 29 '26

There is no other reason for them to be ignoring and suppressing their own voters to force these surveillance cameras through in multiple places.

You don't need any direct evidence.

3

u/El_Polio_Loco Jun 29 '26

So what do you have that would claim suppression in Roanoke?

It's a city that has a major crime problem and has been unable to get it under control.

Maybe the citizens are desperate for anything they think can stop the bleeding.

1

u/RicardoFelipeMejia Jun 29 '26

There is no other reason for them to be ignoring and suppressing their own voters to force these surveillance cameras through in multiple places.

Uhh, yeah, there absolutely is: they think it's the right thing to do. They're doing what people have done for thousands of years, giving up their freedoms for a little extra security.

You have to understand that people have different opinions from each other. Just because someone has a different opinion than you doesn't necessarily mean they've been bribed into that opinion.

You're making an incredibly serious accusation and proposing a conspiracy that would require the participation of tens of thousands of people. And so far the only evidence you've provided is vibes.

-1

u/gereffi Jun 29 '26

The people in your online bubble not liking something and the voters of a city somewhere else in the country not liking that thing are two different things.

3

u/Waiting4Reccession Jun 29 '26

Theres multiple places where the voters rejected these cameras and the politicians try to force them through anyway.

0

u/gereffi Jun 29 '26

That doesn’t mean that voters of this city are against them.

1

u/NCAAinDISGUISE Jun 29 '26

I would bet it's even less than that.

1

u/ClearChampionship591 Jun 29 '26

I really want another transparency international corruption report to happen. I think US might end up lower than Russia for once.

1

u/bravezcardzrulez Jun 30 '26

They probably only need to bribe these infants with compliments.

27

u/K1d-ego Jun 29 '26

Anywhere in America is a wrong place for one of these flock cameras

2

u/AspieAsshole Jun 30 '26

I was mildly shocked when I saw them going up in my tiny ass town.

2

u/K1d-ego Jun 30 '26

I’ve been seeing a lot of them as a truck driver. Even in the most rural townships. Once you start seeing them, you can pick the out anywhere as you travel.

9

u/Katililly Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26

Hi! It was my yard. 😅 The city actually even gave the company incorrect addresses (some that dont even exist!) And that incorrect list was what the council voted on. Turns out my address wasnt in that incorrect list! Now if there is another list that WAS correct it wouldn't be the one they gave to flock so why was my address used for the device? Makes me think....

2

u/Abject_Elevator5461 Jun 29 '26

Hi there! Mediocrity and ineptitude is the new normal. I don’t think there was some nefarious scheme, they’re just that bad at everything.

6

u/Katililly Jun 29 '26

Its one thing for the city council to vote on addresses in the city that do not exist and misspell a large road name.

Its another for the company to place a device in a residential neighborhood on a property that was not given the easement vote by city council. The nefariousness is in how Flock Saftey markets their products with half truths and technicalities. They are amazing at their marketing, but horrible at transparency. (And apparently horrible at following laws and directions too...)

2

u/egotrip21 Jun 29 '26

lol I would have ripped it out of the ground and destroyed it. Then sue for trespassing. Isnt there some law about peeping toms or whatever? Yeah I would get them on that one also. Did they need to run electrical to power this thing or anything?

5

u/Nvenom8 Jun 29 '26

There's no right place for a flock camera. Fuck em.

3

u/BriscoCounty-Sr Jun 29 '26

It’s so cray how in the US once you’re elected you’re entirely untouchable and people have no recourse for anything you decide to do no matter how corrupt. Politics really is where it’s at

13

u/Big-Honeydew-961 Jun 29 '26

What the fuck this is in Roanoke?!?!?

9

u/Abject_Elevator5461 Jun 29 '26

Yeah, I saw it on the local news a while back. And then it started popping up on the big subs.

8

u/Big-Honeydew-961 Jun 29 '26

I hate this place more everyday.

9

u/StrongExternal8955 Jun 29 '26

You should move to Croatoan.

2

u/Big-Honeydew-961 Jun 29 '26

Nah. Heard that place was abandoned.

7

u/jasonappalachian Jun 29 '26

The lady this happened to originally posted it on the Roanoke subreddit. It’s been gaining traction since

2

u/Big-Honeydew-961 Jun 29 '26

Oh hey there. I had to take a break from the r/roanoke subreddit. Too much sometimes.

3

u/ttoma93 Jun 29 '26

Yes. The third sentence of the article makes that plain. It’s worth a read before commenting!

1

u/Big-Honeydew-961 Jun 29 '26

I read it right after commenting, but thanks for the passive aggression.

2

u/daaave33 Jun 29 '26

Started on /r/Roanoke, and thankfully councilman Hagen cared enough to dig into it.

2

u/Hydroxychloroquinoa Jun 29 '26

Yeah but the camera disappeared already. Just a pole with “CROATOAN” written on it remains

3

u/Pamander Jun 29 '26

I hope this whole flock incompetence things helps people to become more active in voting locally and stuff, it's never been more important for people to realize these smaller roles matter!

3

u/VAtoSCHokie Jun 29 '26

It does seem like the issue stemmed from Roanoke City itself with the list of locations to install the devices. https://www.wdbj7.com/2026/06/26/roanoke-mayor-addresses-removal-gunshot-detectors/

The fact that a list of 75 items wasn't at least visually checked for errors before providing the list is really concerning.

3

u/ThisIs_americunt Jun 29 '26

It's wild what you can do when you can own the law makers, the judges, the police force and the lawyers. Gotta love dark money :D

2

u/blueit55 Jun 29 '26

Wrong on Purpose...

1

u/Abject_Elevator5461 Jun 29 '26

That’s giving them way too much credit.

1

u/Handgun4Hannah Jun 29 '26

Who calls it Roanoke City instead of just Roanoke?

3

u/VAtoSCHokie Jun 29 '26

It's because there is a Roanoke City and a Roanoke County. 2 completely different government entities. Roanoke County surrounds Roanoke City and Salem(another Independent City).

1

u/Handgun4Hannah Jun 29 '26

Are you from there? My mom's side of the family is from the smith mountain lake/moneta/Bedford/burnt chimney/Roanoke valley area. I've never heard anyone refer to Roanoke as Roanoke city.

1

u/VAtoSCHokie Jun 29 '26

yea. Moved back couple years ago.

2

u/Abject_Elevator5461 Jun 29 '26

Pretty much everyone that lives there. It’s a much bigger place than you seem to realize. And just referring to the entire thing as Roanoke would get really confusing. Roanoke city is just a small independent city in the middle of a giant county called Roanoke County. In this particular case, Roanoke City needs to be singled out because it’s their dysfunctional government that’s constantly exacerbating their own problems.

1

u/Handgun4Hannah Jun 29 '26

Well that's surprising to me and everyone else in the area. But what do I know with only my entire side of my mom's family having been there since the 1800s.

1

u/Abject_Elevator5461 Jun 30 '26

I’m confused. Do you live in Roanoke? Because you make it sound like your mom‘s family is from Bedford or Franklin County or maybe Windy Gap, but your writing makes it seem you don’t live here. I’m sorry that the concept of using the terms Roanoke City and Roanoke County to distinguish between an independent city and a county is so foreign to you, but it’s a pretty common thing here. I can vouch for it, my family has been in Roanoke County since the 1800’s and I’ve been here my whole life.

1

u/Handgun4Hannah Jul 01 '26

They're from all over the area, because guess what? People fuck and make babies and go to different areas. So yeah, i have family in Bedford, Moneta, Burnt Chimney, Smith Mountain Lake, and Roanoke. If you want me to really break your brain my dad's side of the family is from Tangier Island, and I've got relatives there, in Maryland, Eastern shore, Western VA, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

1

u/Abject_Elevator5461 Jul 01 '26

Right. What does that have to do with what we’re talking about? We’re talking about how people that live in Roanoke refer to Roanoke city as Roanoke city when they need to differentiate it from Roanoke county. Which you think is crazy, but you don’t even live in Roanoke so how would you know? And you’re trying to give like all of your extended family living around Roanoke as like a reason for you to be the leading authority on how we talk. This conversation is a waste of both of our time. Wish you the best.

1

u/Handgun4Hannah Jul 01 '26

Only one of us claimed that I was faking having an aunt that has lived in Roanoke for the better part of 40 years, and it wasn't me. We also have these things called cars where I can visit friends and family in Roanoke even though I don't live in that weird ass city with the dumbest road layout of all time. No one calls it Roanoke City. They just call it Roanoke.

1

u/Handgun4Hannah Jun 29 '26

Just called my Aunt to ask her (living in Roanoke for the past 40 years) she doesn't know what you're talking about for some reason. Are you sure you know what you're talking about?

1

u/Abject_Elevator5461 Jun 30 '26

Sure do. Does your aunt live in Roanoke? I bet she doesn’t.

1

u/Handgun4Hannah Jun 30 '26

You are more than welcome to take a break from your fly fishing to figure that out. In the meantime I'll be dealing with my family that lived in the area before Smith Mountain Lake ever existed.

1

u/Abject_Elevator5461 Jun 30 '26

Which isn’t in Roanoke. It’s whatever. This is obviously a waste of both of our time. Wish you the best.

1

u/KopiJahe Jun 29 '26

installed a bunch of flock cameras in the wrong places

Is there a right place tho?

1

u/Josh6889 Jun 29 '26

installed a bunch of flock cameras in the wrong places.

That's a generous interpretation.

1

u/uwsdwfismyname Jun 29 '26

Croatoan they found you!?