Across the United States, individuals are disabling, damaging, or stealing Flock Safety surveillance cameras used by local police departments, employing tactics ranging from spray-painting lenses to outright destruction. In Lumpkin County, Georgia, a sheriff's Facebook post offering a $1,000 reward for information about a vandalized camera backfired, drawing over 30,000 comments largely siding with the vandals rather than law enforcement.
theverge.com
· 2026-08-27
The Albany Police Department in Georgia posted surveillance footage on Facebook asking the public to identify a man who picked up $30 he found on the floor of a Walmart without turning it in to employees. The post, shared August 18, drew thousands of mocking comments from people questioning why police were devoting resources to such a minor incident.
futurism.com
· 2026-08-27
Meta has settled child-safety-related claims for $18 billion, according to a roundup of risk and compliance news. The same briefing notes Florida's governor voicing concern over Flock surveillance cameras and the FBI dismantling a large China-linked hacking network.
wsj.com
· 2026-08-27
A once-celebrated AI startup founder who drew massive investor enthusiasm and sky-high valuations has seen the company's worth collapse by billions, according to new reporting. The report traces how early hype around the founder's technology claims outpaced scrutiny of the underlying business, culminating in a dramatic financial unraveling.
wsj.com
· 2026-08-26
Police in Oviedo, Florida arrested 24-year-old Evan Meyer and charged him with three felonies after he destroyed what he believed was a real Flock surveillance camera. In reality, the camera was a 3D-printed decoy set up as part of a sting operation targeting people who vandalize the AI-powered license plate readers. Mayor Megan Sladek said she was unaware of the decoy operation and acknowledged the charges are controversial, especially as the city council is weighing whether to end its Flock contract.
techspot.com
· 2026-08-26
Uber is expanding its teen account feature to let parents watch live video from the driver's selfie camera during a trip. The feature rolls out nationwide over the next few weeks after testing in select markets, building on existing tools like PIN verification and GPS tracking. Drivers who accept teen riders must opt in to share brief camera access, and both teen and driver are notified when a parent is watching.
theverge.com
· 2026-08-25
Flock Safety's network of AI-powered surveillance cameras has expanded rapidly across US cities and towns, but communities from both political sides are now organizing against it. Critics cite privacy concerns, lack of oversight, and fears about how police and other agencies use the collected data.
wsj.com
· 2026-08-25
Apple has pushed out RC 2 builds for macOS Tahoe 26.7 (build 25G224) and macOS Sequoia 15.8 (build 24H20) to developers, alongside the seventh developer beta of macOS 27 Golden Gate. The update follows last week's first release candidate, which leaked footage and details about upcoming AirPods with cameras using Visual Intelligence.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-08-24
Despite IMAX existing since 1970, few films are shot using true IMAX cameras due to their massive size, weight, and noise. The cameras require expensive 65-70mm film that runs out quickly, forcing frequent stoppages that slow production and raise costs, as Tom Holland experienced on The Odyssey set. Even newer, quieter IMAX cameras like the one used on that film still weigh nearly 400 pounds, making them impractical for many scenes.
engadget.com
· 2026-08-24
A public research project called the Atlas of Surveillance has compiled the largest known database tracking police surveillance tools used across the United States, including automated license plate readers made by Flock Safety. The tool lets residents search by location to see whether local law enforcement agencies have deployed these camera systems in their area.
cnet.com
· 2026-08-23
Slovak investigators reportedly discovered a hidden backdoor of Russian origin embedded in the country's traffic speed camera systems. The finding raises concerns that the compromised devices could have been used for surveillance or remote manipulation without operator knowledge.
yro.slashdot.org
· 2026-08-23
Garrett Langley, CEO of surveillance firm Flock Safety, has been giving media interviews urging a 'compromise' between privacy and public safety as scrutiny of his company's cameras and license plate recognition tools intensifies. The pushback follows a Washington Post investigation citing 46 cases of police officers allegedly misusing Flock's technology to track partners or exes, prompting Langley to apologize while denying his company caused the abuse.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-08-23
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