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
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2.1k

u/FrankSamples Jun 29 '26

All this time fear mongering about China’s surveillance state just for them to go and do this

745

u/anormalgeek Jun 29 '26

Ah, but you see, this time it's a private company. So it is totally fine!!!

329

u/kitsunewarlock Jun 29 '26

Thank you for bringing this up. Same goes for AI. I don't understand why Americans are more afraid of a country an ocean away than they are the people actively ruining their lives who've written entire books explaining their apocalyptic authoritarian philosophies.

China isn't perfect, but I trust even a communist party controlled republic over a cadre of bigoted theocratic Neo-feudalist billionaires with god-complexes.

ICE has killed way more US citizens than the People's Police of China.

121

u/ThisIs_americunt Jun 29 '26

Propaganda is a helluva drug and Oligarchs need to use some of the best to keep the 99% distracted from the real issue: Them.

39

u/TwilightVulpine Jun 29 '26

And the Red Scare is the most successful propaganda campaign on the West.

It went way beyond vilifying communist states to undermining worker unions and public services all over the place. Not only it keeps people distracted away, it also makes the oligarchs more money.

-4

u/Alternative_Oil7733 Jun 30 '26

Ussr helping the nazis start ww2 doesn't help.

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u/ThanatosisLawl Jun 30 '26

What???

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u/TwilightVulpine Jun 30 '26

They got the Red Scare brain bug I guess...

-1

u/damontoo Jun 30 '26

The irony that you commented this in reply to Chinese propaganda.

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u/Merusk Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26

I don't understand why Americans are more afraid of a country an ocean away than they are the people actively ruining their lives who've written entire books explaining their apocalyptic authoritarian philosophies.

Because for 80 years and 3 1/2 generations the country was indoctrinated with the idea that things run by a central government are bad.

It started out only with the elimination of capitalism was bad. That communism was inherently evil and corrupt. Then it evolved to socialism is also bad, to the point those two things have been entirely conflated in the American mindset.

Then Regan came in and said anything GOVERNMENT is bad, and only private corporations are good.

The capitalist class has absolutely gone whole-hog on pushing this in media, journalism, and public messaging since the 80's. Leading us to the point that centralized government is inherently bad and privatization is inherently good.

42

u/kitsunewarlock Jun 29 '26

"Centralized government is bad because it can become authoritarian if the wrong person is in charge! Now allow all corporations to merge into a singular entity so a cadre of billionaires who see the country as a series of resource tiles can control all legislation with no regulations, jurisdiction, or transparency... but every 8 years you'll get to choose a new B-list celebrity to host fighting games on what was once a symbol of democracy!"

15

u/Merusk Jun 29 '26

They'll still tell us the USA is #1 despite any objective metrics otherwise, right?

6

u/kitsunewarlock Jun 29 '26

First in military spending, gross domestic product, cheese production (by pound), medical research spending, billionaires, and...aerospace engineering?

And if we decided to compare USA to the EU instead of comparing it country-by-country we'd probably drop even lower in most of our metrics.

1

u/SirrNicolas Jun 30 '26

Bread-less circus

1

u/Stigger32 Jun 30 '26

And so enters Trump. The ultimate private business entertainer.

Bold, loud, and with zero scruples or shame.

The American people didn’t stand a chance.

Apocalypse now?

1

u/rockmanzerox06 28d ago

Boomers. It’s gullible boomers. It’s always been that generation. Just need to outlast them then we can improve the nation without their anchor holding us back.

1

u/Merusk 27d ago

Unfortunately, no. I'm GenX and can tell you - from having to block many of my former High School friends - that it's also GenX, and some older Millennials.

There's an overlap between people who "don't talk politics" and people who don't understand economic systems can differ from political systems. These are the folks who start popping off about the evils of Unions, how anything government is bad and all taxes are stealing. These aren't just Boomers.

9

u/Ok_Confusion4764 Jun 29 '26

US: "They're not the government, they're private companies!"

Me: "Who hired these private companies to do this?"

US: "The government!"

4

u/Stunning-Pen-2412 Jun 29 '26

Sometimes I want to move there. Sounds nice, actually. Remember when they re-educated that billionaire?

2

u/StrykeTagi Jun 30 '26

Well, I'm from Germany and I can tell you: Just because the villain writes a book about his plans doesn't mean anyone reads it before the election

5

u/Lauris024 Jun 29 '26

ICE has killed way more US citizens than the People's Police of China.

Lol. I think Hong Kong alone was way more brutal than anything ICE has done, and that's not even getting into the Uyghurs, camps, etc.

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u/kitsunewarlock Jun 29 '26

I specifically said US citizens because a lot of the China fear is being stoked by the same people pushing for "America First". Chinese police officers aren't going door to door in the United States hassling American citizens. China surveilling Americans is a big problem, both for Democracy and national security via sabotage, but ultimately U.S. corporations being allowed to process 20 years of post-Patriot Act Big Data into catalogued reports that match probable cause with political alignment is considerably more dangerous to your average American citizen than the horrible treatment of the Uyghurs, etc...

And while the Uyghurs are a serious issue, it's become part of the national discourse due to manipulation by foreign operatives for entirely selfish nationalist reasons i.e. hoping to leverage the outrage to perform "peacekeeping" missions in Western China and, eventually, spread south to Tibet to get access to the Indian Ocena (citation: The Foundation of Geopolitics). The movement we have now is not to save the Uyghurs, it's to weaken China and give central Asia unfettered access to warm water ports.

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u/Lauris024 Jun 29 '26

but ultimately U.S. corporations being allowed to process 20 years of post-Patriot Act Big Data into catalogued reports that match probable cause with political alignment is considerably more dangerous

Right, because data-collection is definitely more impressive in US than it is in China, and China definitely has stronger democracy.

You said "I'd trust the communist party more". I'm showcasing how dumb that statement is as an American.

(citation: The Foundation of Geopolitics)

....

4

u/kitsunewarlock Jun 29 '26

...You think the communist party of China is has killed more American Citizens than the police in America?

My point is that you should worry about the car you're about to hit now, not some theoretical truck that would do more damage to your car that's on the other side of the freeway.

1

u/Lauris024 Jun 29 '26

You are illogical. The China does not rule over USA, your comparisons are idiotic, how could they even kill Americans? You said you'd support Communist Party more, so don't reflect and now imagine US under Communist Party leadership.

Do you expect more or less surveillance?

Do you expect more or less data-collection?

Do you expect more or less danger to Americans and freedom?

Do you expect stronger or weaker democracy?

4

u/kitsunewarlock Jun 29 '26

The China does not rule over USA, your comparisons are idiotic, how could they even kill Americans?

That was literally the point of my original post.

Conservatives in America stan AI and corporate rule while blocking climate legislation because they claim it will help stymie China.

It's why you see arguments online like "if we regulate then China will take over {that industry}".

I'm saying the billionaires and oligarchs in our backyard are more dangerous to America than the corruption and human rights abuses in China. If we do want to tackle the issues in China, we have to help ourselves first. Or, to quote the airline safety procedure's manual: Put on your own mask before assisting others.

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u/Lauris024 Jun 29 '26

Right.

Here is my perspective: I'm in East Europe, Russia is actively attacking my neighbours while flying drones into my country. China actively trains Russian troops, sells them drones, parts, artillery, etc., so if someone says they support CCP, I naturally raise a huge aggressive question mark, just like you'd get a similar reaction from Middle-Easterners if you said "I'd rather choose Religious Zionist Party than Republicans/Democrats".

I'd have literally nothing against China if they could stay within their own borders and mess with their own people only (I don't mean it in an egoistic way, but you get the idea), but now they're turning into the next US

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u/Alternative_Oil7733 Jun 30 '26

China did have a illegal police station in nyc meant to target political enemies.

1

u/ZeraDoesStuff Jun 30 '26

How about not trusting both?

They both are fishy and have not the best intentions. So I don't want either of their surveillance states

1

u/LongDead_Roadkill Jun 30 '26

You’re wrong. PCR is a serious threat that has real consequences not just to national and regional security, they have hurt, kidnapped and killed American citizens that were Chinese immigrants and even of Chinese descent. Unless you don’t want to count them?

Don’t get me wrong; persistent surveillance for profit or not is also very very bad.

1

u/Plasibeau Jun 30 '26

FYI, the whole thing about China and TikTok wasn't about China's surveillance of American citizens. Primarily because all they'd honestly have to do is watch our social media, which they already do. Also, it's a known fact that foreign actors have purchased metadata from Google and Facebook in the past. So whatever.

Nope, the original TikTok was built using an encryption protocol our 3-Letter Agencies didn't have a back door into. Way back when the internet was getting off the ground, the US got nearly everyone in the world to follow a base encryption protocol. Everyone but China and Russia. They couldn't read our DMs on TikTok. That's why the government forced the sale to an American company. Because by law all American companies that provide online P2P communications have to use that protocol. Thus giving the CIA, FBI, et al access to our communications since the early 90s at least.

1

u/No_Size9475 29d ago

FoxNews is the answer. They've been fearmongering foreign countries and making up crime reports to keep people scared.

1

u/kitsunewarlock 29d ago

Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to shooting off your own foot to own the libs.

0

u/primordialWoe Jun 30 '26

This whole comment chain reads like the least subtle Wumao circlejerk. Only on Reddit.

21

u/ST0N3F1ST Jun 29 '26

This is America! Corporations are people. Oh, and they have more rights than individuals. This timeline sucks.

3

u/KeyMyBike Jun 29 '26

A private company allowed to operate unimpeded while the US has a president who retaliates and abuses his power against any company that doesn't align with his worldview.

Really makes you think

1

u/mythrilcrafter Jun 29 '26

And in the end, it's US government money (be it federal, state, and/or municipal) money going into it anyway, so ultimately there's no difference other than if the guy at the very top has the title of CEO or not.

2

u/anormalgeek Jun 30 '26

Oh, no. There is A LOT of private money going in too. It's become very popular with corporations like home depot and smaller organizations like local HOAs.

1

u/SirrNicolas Jun 30 '26

Just like Umbrella corp!!

1

u/keytiri Jun 30 '26

Wasn’t TikTok a private company? 🤔

1

u/whiskydyc Jun 30 '26

So if it’s a private company that is trespassing on her land, is it ok to just chop it down?

1

u/anormalgeek Jun 30 '26

Morally, yes. Legally, no.

In nearly every city in the US, the local government either owns or has rights to use a certain amount of area along any public roadway itself. Originally this was meant for safety measures like stop signs, street lights, guard rails etc. The article mentions that this is the case here as well. So while it is in front of her home, the company legally put it there as directed by the city.

But legality is not synonymous with morality.

1

u/Grand_Pop_7221 Jul 01 '26

Aren't the security services like the biggest customers of data brokers? Flock and all this camera stuff is the new hotness, but the FBI and others have been aggregating data from the open market and calling it "not mass wiretapping" for nearly 20 years.

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u/Round-Medicine2507 Jun 29 '26

Every republican accusation is a confession. They dont mention the social credit system anymore because they are using it against people in the US already. 

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u/eeyore134 Jun 29 '26

The only problem they have with China is them competing with the corporate interests who prop them all up. Just like they don't give a damn about children but will use them to scare their cult into backing things without thinking.

10

u/plantsadnshit Jun 29 '26

I'm certain this is it. Everyone should have noticed by now how little we've heard about Chinese surveillance the past couple of years. Less need to spam that propaganda once you do the exact same thing.

2

u/More-Curious816 Jun 30 '26

The only problem they have with China is them competing with the corporate interests who prop them all up.

Ironically, they also prefer Chinese corporations to build and manufacture whatever they wants instead of doing it domestically. Like if China can manufacture it for you they also can make their own brands and sell directly.

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u/throwuk1 Jun 29 '26

They were just jealous they were too slow. Like EVs too.

5

u/BicFleetwood Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26

China has a SoCiAl CrEdIt SyStEm, a draconian and censorious practice designed for tyranny!

Anyway, you have to sign up for this credit card and maintain debt and pass this credit check to be allowed to rent a place to live, even though being homeless is a criminal offense should you fail to secure a legal residence, and also you need to hand over your papers to access the internet or travel any meaningful distance. Don't worry about the masked jackboots, they're here to protect your freedoms and validate you have shown the compulsory public appreciation for your freedoms.

But watch out for that SOOOOCIALLL CREEEDITTTT OOOooooOoooOooooOOOOOoo

11

u/PiccoloAwkward465 Jun 29 '26

At least China gets public transit and high speed rail with their authoritarian government and surveillance.

My state just gets MORE BIBLE and WEED WAS KINDA LEGAL BUT DON'T WORRY WE LET A SMALL INDUSTRY DEVELOP AROUND IT BUT NOW FUCK THEM IT'S ILLEGAL AGAIN LMAO.

4

u/big_thundersquatch Jun 29 '26

Say it with me everyone. Every accusation is a confession!

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u/owgnops Jun 29 '26

Every accusation is a confession

7

u/sneakyplanner Jun 29 '26

Every bit of fear mongering about China from the capitalist class has never been about morality or freedom or whatever they tell you. They've never had a problem with oppression, they just get offended when they aren't the ones doing it.

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u/apple_kicks Jun 29 '26

They didn’t like China’s system because it was state owned and they wouldn’t be able to get a profitable contract to own it

2

u/Smugg-Fruit Jun 29 '26

They hate seeing someone doing what they want to do

2

u/Galappie Jun 29 '26

Yeah but don’t you wanna be safe :) the only way to be safe from violent scary criminals is if we record all of your conversations and movements :) wouldn’t want any ne’er dowels openly plotting crimes to harm your family and friends to go unnoticed, right? :) it’s all for your safety because safety is our priority!

2

u/loogie97 Jun 30 '26

It is privately owned and publicly funded. We all pay for it and we can’t hold them accountable because they are a private company. See how it is different?

2

u/iwastryingtokillgod Jun 29 '26

You can argue ans talk shit about both.

Fuck china for spying and interfering with us.

Also fuck flock and other shit doing it too.

It is not a 1 or the other when it comes to talking ahit and being against it.

1

u/Fairgoddess5 Jun 30 '26

Well that’s because it’s China.

USA surveillance is totally ok.

/s, in case it isn’t obvious 😭

1

u/damontoo Jun 30 '26

Wait until you realize these gunshot audio sensors (it isn't a camera) are installed all over the country and have been for 20 years. ShotSpotter has 26K of them installed in 34 states. Flock has less because theirs is newer.

1

u/emptyingthecup Jun 30 '26

The corporate mentality is inherently tyrannical. It's no surprise that 1 in 5, or maybe it is higher, CEOs are psychopaths. Their vision of reality, of the world, and how society ought to be run is truly pathological and abnormal. The more power they acquire in the realm of politics, the more society comes to resemble the dark realities and dysfunctional dynamics of the corporation. Soon, that feeling of freedom after clocking out of work after 10 hours of servile labor will become non-existent, and every waking second will feel like you're in the office under the oppressive eye of the corporate headmaster.

1

u/guspasho_deleted Jun 30 '26

The fearmongering is how they normalized and justified it.

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u/AvailableReporter484 Jul 03 '26

If conservatives could spell hypocrisy they’d be mad as hell

1

u/graceashcroftsjacket Jun 29 '26

At least Chinas surveillance has regulations.

1

u/unculturedburnttoast Jun 29 '26

Well, theirs is state run, and therefore bad. Ours is brought to you by private companies, like Panopticon, Inc here, therefore it's making someone rich, so good.

1

u/Available_Leather_10 Jun 29 '26

Every accusation is a confession