Clive Thompson

Flock -- an automatic license-plate-reading service -- is adding tons of data sources ...

... so police could, upon scanning your license, get linked to tons more info about your life, relationships, etc

where did Flock get these additional sources of info?

they're using standard people-lookup tools and data brokers, but also ...

... info from *data breaches*

so great

@404mediaco has the story: https://www.404media.co/license-plate-reader-company-flock-is-building-a-massive-people-lookup-tool-leak-shows/

unpaywalled version: https://archive.is/GmuUk

License Plate Reader Company Flock Is Building a Massive People Lookup Tool, Leak Shows

Flock, which has license plate readers (LPRs) all around the country, wants police to be able to “jump from LPR to person,” according to leaked audio obtained by 404 Media.

404 Media
May 16, 2025 at 5:26pmWeb
Show threadmischief brewerMay 16, 2025

@clive here's some info you might like to know https://deflock.me/

@404mediaco

DeFlock

Find license plate readers (LPRs) near you.

Show threadClive ThompsonMay 16, 2025

@mbrewer @404mediaco

aha, thank you!! that map is great

Show thread[empty]May 16, 2025
@mbrewer @clive @404mediaco Seems like there are more cameras where there are more POC living
Show threadClive ThompsonMay 16, 2025

@allanb @mbrewer @404mediaco

Yep

surprise surprise

Show threadReayMay 16, 2025
@mbrewer @mayintoronto @clive @404mediaco
@FirewallDragons
Show threadAhri EnbyMay 16, 2025
@clive @404mediaco privacy concerns ahead
Show threadAlexisMay 16, 2025
@clive @404mediaco Thanks for the non-paywalled version. 404 Media could stand to learn a few things from how people feel about The New York Times putting critically important news behind a paywall.
Show threadClive ThompsonMay 16, 2025

@LexYeen @404mediaco

well to be fair to 404, they do need to make money via subscriptions, because they’ve no doubt seen how free-to-view/paid-for-via-advertising models can deform coverage, as editors start running clickbait because “more eyeballs” becomes the chief metric of success

I don’t know of any professional publishing model – i.e. one that needs to generate enough money to pay for multiple full-time staff – that doesn’t have some sort of downside

Show threadAlexisMay 16, 2025

@clive @404mediaco Surely there's a better way than cutting articles midway through with a subscription demand - which, I will admit, is a /micron/ better than NYT's full blocking of articles entirely to non-subscribed readers.

If a company wants to be paid for the writing in the articles it publishes, it is a losing strategy to not allow for a quality judgment of said writing prior to the reader paying for a subscription. This logic is what keeps me from paying for a NYT subscription.

Show threadBob K Mertz May 17, 2025
@clive
Ironically I've wanted to donate to 404 for a while but couldn't bring myself to do so when they had been forcing people to give them their email address in order to read articles. I like what they research and report on but reporting on privacy issues and requesting personal information or cookies with every site visit is a bit of a contradiction.
@LexYeen @404mediaco
Show threadClive ThompsonMay 17, 2025

@404mediaco @bobkmertz @LexYeen

Yeah I get that

I use a lot of burner emails for one offs

Show threadVissMay 16, 2025
@clive @404mediaco wow is flock trying to get acquired by palantir?
Show threadClive ThompsonMay 16, 2025

@Viss @404mediaco

Definitely working from the same songbook

Show threadWilfried KlaebeMay 16, 2025

May they get hit with GDPR complaints soon and hard, by some EU citizen who drove through their area.

@clive @404mediaco

Show threadAngela AmbrozMay 16, 2025
@clive @404mediaco the #pyconus talk today by @AlSweigart included the creepy possibilities of decentralized mass surveillance using OCR of license plates!
Show threadClive ThompsonMay 16, 2025

@404mediaco @briz @AlSweigart

oh that’s cool, is that going to be put online afterwards? Would love to see it, his work is amazing

Show threadAngela AmbrozMay 16, 2025
@clive @AlSweigart I would presume so, just given that the talks are all usually published, but I'll let him confirm
Show threadJ. Steven York RESISTSMay 16, 2025
@clive @404mediaco
Wanna bet that their executives, board, and probably all their rich friends, are blocked from their service? Invasion of privacy is for the Poors.
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 47May 16, 2025
@clive Minor clarification: this @404mediaco article is not "paywalled", it's regwalled.
404 Media does a good job of explaining why they need people to register for them to be able to survive as a going concern so they can continue doing important reporting like this. I therefore ask you to consider not sharing regwall bypass links for their articles but rather encouraging people to register.
Ref: https://www.404media.co/why-404-media-needs-your-email-address/
We Need Your Email Address

AI stealing our work. The collapse of social networks. The need to pay journalists to produce impactful journalism. Here is why we are asking for your email address to read 404 Media.

404 Media
Show threadPhosphenesMay 16, 2025

@clive @404mediaco

Which means they are funding data breaches. Data goes on the black market for a price, ya know.

Show thread🖤 vea 💖May 16, 2025

@clive @404mediaco

It doesn’t solve the problem entirely, but you can make this attack vector slightly less effective on you by putting your car’s title in a living trust.
https://legalclarity.org/why-put-a-car-in-a-trust-benefits-and-legal-considerations/

Why Put a Car in a Trust? Benefits and Legal Considerations

Explore the benefits and legal aspects of placing a car in a trust, including administration, insurance, and tax considerations.

LegalClarity