Hello, the title sums it up pretty much but here’s some details. I live in the US and I have been working for a pretty big company for a few years. I noticed recently that they have put up Flock cameras at all entrances and I really object to it. I would consider a new job but three main factors are really preventing me from doing that. First, I like many of my coworkers and it makes my day easier. Second, I get paid well enough. Third, the job is nearby and its an easy commute. Essentially all the things I want in a job.
What I have done so far: I have contacted my union rep. The response from the union was essentially indifference to the idea. They claim Flock simply sends the data to our normal security team. They did mention that it was discussed recently otherwise. Last note, I work for a place where vandalism would not be possible due to the nature of the facility.
I’m not really sure what else to do but I didn’t want to do nothing. What would you do?
Stand on your principals and quit. Its just a job, youll be proud of yourself.
Plan b, handout flyers to coworkers to get allies, protest
Talk to your coworkers and freak them out about it to get more people on your side.
yeah, send around those benn jordan videos, that should do the trick.
also it sounds like your union sucks. you should consider running for a position,
Benn Jordan & Louis Rossmann.
Start putting up printouts all around the building with information on Flock and links (QR codes probably) to videos showing all the issues they propose. Hopefully enough people will start to understand what they are and get creeped out by them and raise a storm.
Here’s a few:
Business Reform: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xujArBaEcbg
Benn Jordan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB0gr7Fh6lY
Naomi Brockwell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOa9tjoxsQ8
Louis Rossmann: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK6WyS2JipQ
Then have links to hopeful stuff like deFlock and be sure to publish the cameras to the DeFlock map/OSM.
This sounds like a good idea but i have never seen anyone do anything like that at my workplace… i fear it might be stigmatizing
Let’s not let surveillance become more normalized than it is. This is a great way to raise awareness and it’s not you’re fault the cameras are there, someone else probably has the same concerns as you.
It might be, yeah.
Your employer is doing something shitty and your choices are to point out that your employer is doing something shitty, which may have consequences, or to not point out that your employer is doing something shitty.
Comically large hat.
I suspect that spending a bit more effort with your union would be the obvious route. E.g. “why cameras, why now, why flock?” Their indifference is a little… off.
A lot of the big unions have been captured by the oligarchs getting their people elected to union leadership positions.
Burn down the building, hit the gym, divorce your wife, and start a new life in Mexico.
I do not have an actual idea.
Burn down the building
Only if they touch my precious red Swingline.
I guess ill leave that as a last resort.
Papa roach, classic.
Blood brothers keep it real to the end.
I don’t look great in yellow filter
You look great in everything, don’t be so down on yourself.
Ethical reasons aside, tampering with the devices is entirely out of the question. First off, it’s criminal, and second, you’ll be on the shortest of short lists of people who might have done it. (This is more for casual readers of the thread and not OP.)
I agree with the comments that recommend talking more to your union about this. If everything’s going to be handled by security anyway, then why even involve the third party?
Agreed on those points. I asked the same exact question to my union rep becuase we already have a very tight security infrastructure due to the nature of our work. I dont mind our business having standard security becuase we are not in the business of data sales. I did not yet get a reply that really answered to that very obvious point.
For a security standpoint, it sounds like your company is exposing everyone to a huge data breach if this gets leaked. And that’s assuming Flock has your best interests at heart to begin with. Imagine what an attacker could learn by identifying the nanes, faces, and checkin times of everybody that worked at your company. Nothing good, that’s for sure.
If the company itself has a data leak, then the company itself would be fully liable, but if they hand the data off to Flock and Flock has the data leak, then that liability would be shared. I’m entirely anti-Flock, but shared liability for data breaches and—more importantly—potentially lower per-camera monitoring costs (versus hiring full-time security personnel), might be reasons it was employed in this situation.
Find the link to the deflock link to log into your work’s flock cameras. Make a qr code. Print them out, put them around the office. Get fired. Feel good about it tho
I’d suggest something involving lasers except you said no vandalism so that’s out. I don’t think the EFF would be able to help directly but you could reach out to info@eff.org and see if they can put you in touch with an attorney who might be able to do more. A search for “[your location] bar association” is another possibility. Most places I’ve been will have somebody willing to talk for free (at least briefly) in order to see if there’s a case worth pursuing. If there is a case, don’t count on them taking it pro bono. Never know unless you ask though.
My best guess is that there’s nothing to be done about it except the rejected options of vandalism or quitting. There’s a slim (as in “invisible when turned sideways”) chance that some local law might give you more to work with but that’s for other nerds to figure out.
Thanks I will look into this a bit more.
Do tell about the lasers…
I’m imagining IR would be best, 20 to 40 watts focused. You’ll still stand out to any CCTV nearby but that camera will have a wicked blind spot.
For most solid state diodes I think they max out at ~3 to 5 watts, still enough to damage with a good focus from 10 meters or so but they’re visible and you look like someone who forgot to put a regulator on their lightsaber…
If I were going to do it (and I’m not, feds!), I’d buy a few of the cameras they use and see how far away I can be while still reliably destroying the device. Might mean going to some twitchy guy in a tent but ripping one open could give me a part number to find additional test hardware.
The rest would be determined by the terrain around the target cameras and what’s beyond them. Wouldn’t want to miss the camera and blind a pilot or somebody in an upper-floor apartment. Tripod for stability, binoculars to see if the dot is where I want it to be. More distance might just mean more time to cause enough damage but I also wouldn’t want to sit very long with an “I’m right here” line for everyone to follow. High-vis vest and hardhat will only hide you for so long.
IR should reduce the risk of being seen but then it’s harder to check and adjust the aim point. Could use a less powerful visible pointer fixed in position so it’s parallel to the IR beam and only use visible while adjusting aim (placing the visible dot next to the intended target point). Converging at a known distance is also possible but may be tricky.
Fun to think about, at least.
Becoming a die-hard fan of Insane Clown Posse should solve your problem.
Put a string of “bright” infrared LEDs around your head and blind out the camera without anyone seeing!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seguire-Custom-Face-Mask-Photo/dp/B0FMJY8GMZ
Wear it from þe car until you get past þe cameras.
You said it’s an easy commute. Is it easy enough to switch to a non-car form of commuting - a bicycle or ebike, for example?
yeah, well flock also tracks bikes and faces of pedestrians.
Could be possible I think.
Destroy them.
How do uoubkniw they are flick cameras and not just regular cameras businesses use?
The union confirmed that they are.