this post was submitted on 28 May 2026
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Regretful cities aren't sure how to cancel their surveillance contracts, so they are literally covering their cameras.

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[–] empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 184 points 3 months ago (3 children)

I 100% guarantee that "deactivated" cameras are still operational. It's just not the City getting the data.

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 37 points 3 months ago (3 children)

They don't just collect video either. Audio, network traffic, Bluetooth devices, tons of electronic intelligence can still be gotten with covered cameras

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

seems like they should use those metallic ballon type bags.

[–] M137@lemmy.today -1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Don't think they'll do much against the audio, but that seems like it won't be much use by itself. Though that doesn't matter, it's the principle that matters, they shouldn't be allowed to record audio like that no matter how useless it is.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 1 points 3 months ago

figured more for wireless stuff. I was under the impression mylar acted like a faraday cage. also I imagine the crinkled reflection would be that much more annoying for the camera. I bet it would crinkle a bit to distorting noise stuff.

[–] trackball_fetish@lemmy.wtf 3 points 3 months ago

The Bluetooth tracking is much more sinister than people know. The city I'm in has devices specifically for this placed strategically along with the alpr and cameras. Its fuckin' wild. Can't even leave without them tracking you.

[–] abigscaryhobo@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

I don't know how, but I bet there's an enterprising way to make a nice cheap battery powered Bluetooth scrambler that can be stuck right on one of those poles with a magnet and just absolutely ruin their signals.

[–] frustrated_phagocytosis@fedia.io 26 points 3 months ago

Sounds like these cities need an adopt-a-Flock program to get these lonely civil rights violations into new forever homes