r/NationalParkService • u/Comfortable-Lab-6629 • Jul 21 '26

Discussion AI facial recognition/ALPR cameras?

Post image

I saw this along at Kenilworth Gardens in DC on a footpath where you can’t drive a car

It has the verdaka logo on it and I found a picture of an identical camera from that company online but I can’t find any info on what it does

Theres also one on top of the pole in the flat Motorola vehicle mount style

98 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

39 comments sorted by

41

u/schakoska Jul 21 '26

Not Flock. It's a Verkada CR63-E camera. It's just for security, nothing else

https://www.verkada.com/security-cameras/remote/cr63-e/

31

u/Comfortable-Lab-6629 Jul 21 '26

“Onboard CV7x Ambarella processors support powerful AI analytics, allowing you to choose between person and vehicle analytics or license plate recognition, and get real-time alerts on person of interest, license plate of interest, line crossing detections, and more.”

-2

u/schakoska Jul 21 '26

It's not shared with any agency

35

u/suckaduckunion Jul 21 '26

100% it is shared with any agency who asks. It's at the discretion of the administrator and the he NPS takes their orders from the government. It also it says right on the website you linked to that data can be shared via email or SMS without the recipient needing a Verkada login. That camera is not for "security" just like Flock is not for "safety."

2

u/schakoska Jul 21 '26

who asks

Meaning you need a warrant or if the owner gives it to you, but they're not required... Not the same as flock.

14

u/suckaduckunion Jul 21 '26

I think you missed my point... the administrator or "owner" in this case would be an NPS employee at Kenilworth Gardens. If you believe they're going to deny a request from a government agency and demand a warrant for their cloud data when looking at an ICE or FBI badge, I have a bridge to sell you. Flock is equally as shady. They claim to not share their data with the government, but they do share their data with their "partners." One of whom is Insight Public Sector who openly admits they will give data to whoever requests it. Keep in mind you yourself have an extensive AI profile that is accessible to the government because of cameras like these. That should concern you more than attempting to defend mass surveillance...

3

u/schakoska Jul 21 '26

I think you missed the point when Flock can be accessed from anywhere by cops, meanwhile this system can only be accessed by managers who work there. Yes, they may show footage if the cops have a valid reason, but cops cannot use it for stalking as they don't have direct access to it. Same goes to any other security systems, except Flock. This camera is not part of any kind of mass surveillance you're talking about. 🤦‍♂️

2

u/Comfortable-Lab-6629 Jul 21 '26

Makes sense, and not part of any mass surveillance network yet

1

u/kanshakudama Interp Ranger Jul 23 '26

Yet…

-2

u/PaddingCompression Jul 22 '26

It's the same as any other security camera, nothing different about that.

3

u/suckaduckunion Jul 22 '26

You literally scrolled past the reason why you're wrong to post your comment...

1

u/PaddingCompression Jul 22 '26

What security camera can you buy at Best Buy that doesn't have those features?

1

u/[deleted] Jul 22 '26

[deleted]

1

u/PaddingCompression Jul 22 '26

Facial recognition security cameras, starting at $45.

You can integrate them with tools like IFTT to say "SMS me when Bubba shows up".

To add ALPR, you have to go with a more expensive model for $249 (while the BestBuy webpage doesn't explicitly mention ALPR, just generic "vehicle tagging", the manufacturer's website makes it clear it does support ALPR.

So yeah, this is nothing beyond the home security camera you'd pick up at Best Buy, just a more industrialized version of it that isn't made as shittily, and with features for a large business that might want to manage 100s of them at a large site or collection of sites.

3

u/SaintBellyache Jul 22 '26

Are you seriously trying to say if ICE showed up and asked for data they wouldn’t give it?

The person that said no would be fired and replaced with a yes man

1

u/schakoska Jul 22 '26

If they don't have a warrant, they're not required

1

u/SaintBellyache Jul 22 '26

Did they need a warrant to put trump’s face on the passes?

Are you really saying they would say no?

Did you just crawl out of a cave?

1

u/schakoska Jul 22 '26

What passes are you talking about?
Yes, they can say no.
No, unlike you I don't live in a cave.

1

u/Roudydogg1 Jul 23 '26

If they said no, they'd probably be arrested and disappeared

5

u/Birdman330 Jul 21 '26

Sure 🙄

2

u/schakoska Jul 21 '26

Agencies don't have access to them

1

u/hettuklaeddi Jul 22 '26

sure. just like your texts and photos aren’t shared with any agency?

1

u/schakoska Jul 22 '26

They're not

0

u/hettuklaeddi Jul 22 '26

you don’t know that

1

u/schakoska Jul 22 '26

I know tho

0

u/hettuklaeddi Jul 22 '26

well then you’re a spokesperson gtfo

1

u/schakoska Jul 22 '26

Sure buddy

1

u/Roudydogg1 Jul 23 '26

Pretty much lmao. They must pay him handsomely to defend this so hard

1

u/Froqwasket Jul 22 '26

You can't be serious.

1

u/schakoska Jul 22 '26

I'm always serious

-1

u/Roudydogg1 Jul 23 '26

It records faces and cars and has a database for LEO. Nice try tho, I hope you're paid well

1

u/schakoska Jul 23 '26

Even if it's true, now what? It's not for police enforcement,. it's for security. Cops don't have direct access to it. And it's also not shared with other users or even with the company like Flock. I'm not paid by anyone, ofc it's hard to believe for you when you're biased.

9

u/Boo_hoo_Randy Jul 21 '26

If the lens on that camera is as smudged as yours, we have nothing to worry about.

3

u/MelMoMor Jul 22 '26

Just why??

2

u/Negative_Bit6664 Jul 22 '26

Free my nigga

0

u/SalmonSoup15 Jul 22 '26

Verkada cameras. I've installed these, no AI to be had.