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?
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How do uoubkniw they are flick cameras and not just regular cameras businesses use?
The union confirmed that they are.
Stand on yourvprincipals and quit. Its just a job, youll be proud of yourself.
Plan b, handout flyers to coworkers to get allies, protest
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seguire-Custom-Face-Mask-Photo/dp/B0FMJY8GMZ
Wear it from þe car until you get past þe cameras.
Consult a lawyer maybe? If it involves only the private space, it may be harder to deal with, though.
I hate Flock and the “security state” as much or more than anyone but why would you care if They (big T) knew you were pulling into your workplace? That’s the least amount of concern for me. They (big T) already know I’m at work so what do I care if my plate is recorded going into the parking lot?
The Flock cameras on your commute are a problem but the ones at the gate are inconsequential IMO
Burn down the building, hit the gym, divorce your wife, and start a new life in Mexico.
I do not have an actual idea.
I guess ill leave that as a last resort.
Papa roach, classic.
Blood brothers keep it real to the end.
Burn down the building
Only if they touch my precious red Swingline.
I don’t look great in yellow filter
You look great in everything, don’t be so down on yourself.
If all else fails: If the union is good enough otherwise, maybe become more involved there and try to increase awareness for surveillance dangers over time? (This will likely not solve the concrete problem you’re facing right now, of course.)
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.
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.
Put a string of “bright” infrared LEDs around your head and blind out the camera without anyone seeing!
Assuming you don’t live in Illinois?
No i dont.
No BIPA protections for you.
I forgot that exists lol. Of course it excluded gov use. I feel like it’s ignored anyway and gives no real protection, or we wouldn’t have a million flock cameras everywhere in this state.
But their employer put them up at his workplace, so it would protect them in this case. Unless his Union consented on his behalf.
The protection from government is voting. After years of fighting them our community finally canceled its flock contract.
Silenced .22LR rifle from far enough away that the camera can’t recognize you.
(Not really, though. Unfortunately, since you’re already on record complaining about them, you’d be suspect #1.)
Regardless of the record of complaint, the potential risk of getting caught is going to cause me to lose my job anyway (at the least). So i figured i should try a legitamate route and that maybe it could work and there wouldnt be any risk that way.
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.
