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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[–] caboose2006@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago

Just read the headline. Good

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 3 points 4 hours ago

Article reminded me that some people say "by accident" (me) and some say "on accident" (my cousins).

[–] sureshot0@discuss.online 1 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

News to me. I wonder when, if ever, I will see this in real life.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 6 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

You don't have any trash bags?

[–] sureshot0@discuss.online 3 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

I've never seen anyone covering Flock cameras nor have I ever seen an average person break a minor law without severe live-ruining repercussions. I have only ever heard of rich people breaking major laws without repercussions.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 4 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

You don't hear about it because they haven't been caught. Then again, we're talking about covering up a camera... 🤔

Wear a mask and clothing you have never been seen in before that you can dispose of afterward. Maybe use stilts so they'll be looking for a really tall fucker.

[–] sureshot0@discuss.online 4 points 4 hours ago

No, I mean I have never seen a flock camera with a bag over it.

[–] W3dd1e@lemmy.zip 12 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

This is an better idea. I was going to shoot them with a paintball gun.

[–] ilinamorato@lemmy.world 3 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

iirc, paintball marker is slightly translucent, right? So maybe like...a sticker?

[–] W3dd1e@lemmy.zip 5 points 6 hours ago (3 children)

Some of the cameras by me are a little high up, which is why initially I thought paintball.

I bet I could fly a drone with a trash bag over it though.

[–] Widdershins@lemmy.world 2 points 3 hours ago

My neighbor used to put marbles in his paintball gun

[–] ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net 8 points 5 hours ago

One of those spray-can extension poles would probably work pretty well.

[–] glitch1985@lemmy.world 4 points 6 hours ago

Must have been a scary ghost that disabled those spy cameras.

[–] NehpetsDoom@lemmy.zip 7 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Trash bags just do that sometimes...

[–] glitch1985@lemmy.world 3 points 6 hours ago

Getting the plastic bag scene from American Beauty vibes.

[–] MrKoyun@lemmy.world 16 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (4 children)

Why aren't they just... Removing them?

Oh. Its probably because removing them is unnecessarily complicated so they need the company to come do it for them.

[–] frostysauce@lemmy.world 11 points 9 hours ago (2 children)

If you had read the article you'd know that the cities aren't sure if they can remove them under the terms of their contracts with flock. So they're covering them while working that out.

[–] CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works 7 points 5 hours ago

I'm pretty sure one city did remove them and then Flock just came and put new ones up which is what lead to the trash bags.

[–] INHALE_VEGETABLES@aussie.zone 2 points 4 hours ago (1 children)
[–] SethTaylor@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Why read all article when some article good enough?

What am I? Some kind of readist? A phisosopher?

[–] INHALE_VEGETABLES@aussie.zone 1 points 1 minute ago

READING FOR NERDS

[–] bold_atlas@lemmy.world 24 points 12 hours ago (3 children)

You don't have to worry about a complicated removal if you have an angle grinder.

[–] lando55@lemmy.zip 3 points 10 hours ago

You'd be surprised how few worries I have when I'm brandishing an angle grinder

[–] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 2 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

on a totally unrelated topic, but harbor freight is a great place to get affordable tools.

[–] glitch1985@lemmy.world 1 points 6 hours ago

And if you time your visit right, free bucket!

[–] orenj@leminal.space 1 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago)

I was thinking hacksaw but I like where your mind is at.

[–] Pulsar@lemmy.world 2 points 9 hours ago

If I remember correctly the agreement is some kind of lease, so the city/county doesn't really own them after they are installed.

[–] sobchak@programming.dev 3 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

I've heard the excuse that they're private property so they can't. They're not hard to remove though. They're usually just attached to poles with pipe clamps.

[–] CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works 1 points 5 hours ago

I'm not so sure about that because even if they are privately owned, that doesn't mean they have the inherent right to be mounted on a city pole. The property isnt harmed by removing them from the pole and storing them in a deep underground bunker infested with Hanta Virus rats, black widows, and alligators.

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 7 points 12 hours ago

I'm surprised Dayton is doing even that. It's a low bar, sure, but it's also Dayton.

[–] Sirdubdee@piefed.social 4 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

I wonder how safe the poles are, compared to well tested road signs that are up. Those easily break off when hit. Will you end up with a solar panel through your windshield in an accident? I feel like one good lawsuit could make Flock have to replace every one of them if a lawyer can convince 12 people that they are a physical danger.

[–] Killer@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago

I've seen multiple videos showing they aren't installed properly and won't break away.

[–] roserose56@lemmy.zip 30 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

Do also the other thing, where you brake it apart. Same thing, but it's permanently.

[–] vapordays@leminal.space 6 points 11 hours ago

Or accelerate it apart

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 8 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago)

I read the beginning of the title as "Cities are Cowering" and now I think it could easily be a part of an alternate title.

Like your the damn government... Just remove the devices, tell Flock where they can pick them up in the next two weeks otherwise they will be sold as is on open market and pay the termination fee or potential lawsuit. Cities get sued like all the time and I am confident even a moderately competent lawyer could find a cheap way out.

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