Online Campaign Calls for October 31 “DeFlock Day” Targeting Flock Cameras

A growing social media campaign is calling for people across the country to take action against Flock Safety cameras on October 31, with some posts appearing to encourage people to cut down, disable or destroy the surveillance equipment.

To be clear, this is not an official national DeFlock Day and should not be confused with lawful efforts around the country aimed at removing Flock cameras through public pressure, legislation, local government action and contract cancellations.

The October 31 campaign circulating online is different.

Some of the posts promoting the unofficial event are calling for physical action against Flock cameras themselves, potentially exposing participants to criminal charges and civil liability.

APR•St Tammany has repeatedly raised concerns about Flock Safety cameras, mass surveillance and the amount of information these systems can collect and make searchable. APR does not support the continued expansion of Flock cameras throughout our communities.

But destroying the cameras is not the answer.

Cutting down or damaging a Flock camera will not eliminate the system. In many cases, the equipment could simply be replaced. It could also give agencies justification to install additional cameras, increase security around existing equipment or expand surveillance in an effort to protect the system.

In other words, destroying one camera could ultimately lead to two taking its place.

If residents want Flock cameras removed, the more effective route is through public records, local government meetings, elected officials, legislation, contract challenges and continued public scrutiny of how the systems are being used.

There is a legitimate national debate happening right now over automated license plate readers, government surveillance and how much information law enforcement agencies should be able to collect about people who are not suspected of committing a crime.

That debate should continue.

But destroying property is not the way to win it.

APR•St Tammany does not support Flock Safety cameras or the continued expansion of these surveillance systems. However, APR•St Tammany is not calling for, encouraging or supporting anyone cutting down, disabling, damaging or destroying a Flock camera. We do not support the actions being promoted in some of these October 31 posts.

If the goal is to get rid of Flock cameras, giving agencies a reason to replace them and potentially install even more of them accomplishes the exact opposite.