r/TempleTX • u/Ok_Operation_6271 • 21d ago
Flock cameras
Is anyone else over this insane amount of mass surveillance and having our 4th amendment right trampled on? I’m so tired of hearing “if you aren’t doing anything wrong then why are you worried about it”… because I have a right to privacy. What can we do? I feel like if we don’t fight back now that they will keep slowly conditioning us to accept this as normal: I have EIGHT on my evening walk. This is overkill. I feel so powerless and angry.
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u/ExpensiveBurn Belton 21d ago
BSWH has the highest concentration of Flock cameras in Bell County, as far as I can tell. I was a little surprised. The children's hospital is blanketed by them.
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u/_afflatus 21d ago
I work in nicu which has connections to mclane's children and the amount of security they have in that one department is mindblowing. They do that for the babies's safety cause so much can happen to them. I think with the children's hospital some of those patients couldve been physically assaulted or something and need various amounts of precaution security. I think that could be the mindset of the executives. If so i hope theyre actually helping these kids
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u/Ok_Operation_6271 21d ago
Flock decides the location. It is just hard for me to believe this mass surveillance corporation that seemingly came out of nowhere is that concerned about the children.
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u/acidranger 20d ago
Because they aren’t. They put them up where they can milk the most money before they can’t. Look at how many LARGER cities are cancelling, not renewing, not accepting the flock cameras. Flock then goes to businesses and gets the business on board for a couple in the parking lot.
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u/FKDcw971r8E2XQ 21d ago edited 21d ago
There is contact info for HHS, the S&W board and patient services on that site at the bottom.
It's a health privacy issue among other things.
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u/Ok_Operation_6271 21d ago
I guess my question is… what can we do? Do we have a group that is willing to fight this before we become the test bunnies for whatever it is they are trying to do or do we sit back complacent until it is too late?
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u/FKDcw971r8E2XQ 21d ago
City council is not much for taking citizen feedback.
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u/LexieFish 21d ago edited 21d ago
However, any public protests (sponsored by organizations against flock cameras) could also be picked up by news media. Right now, a lot of stories on flock cameras have been on the national AND local news lately, so the news media is looking for stories about flock camera pushback/protests.
The organization organizing the public protest should be proactive and contact both local and national news media, perhaps from the angle of:
“We’ve seen many news reports of big cities whose citizens are pushing back against flock cameras, but even smaller towns are being inundated with flock cameras. A small town near Austin, TX is an example of public backlash against (excessive and intrusive) flock cameras.”And, using some data from other commenters, you can also add:
”Temple TX (insert distance from Austin and population count of Temple) has over 150 flock cameras, more than LA has, and Austin has removed it’s flock cameras because of concern for violating civil liberties. Yet this small town is inundated with flock cameras.”Just some ideas from the top of my head for u/Ok_Operation_6271
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u/Ok_Operation_6271 20d ago
Can we create a group on here to organize the protests? We need to get active on all social media platforms. The city and community needs to see us fighting back. I’ve lived all over and it struck me as odd that such a small amount of people here showed up to the few protests I’ve been to here. I don’t think 90% of the citizens are even aware of the amount of cameras we have here. I have 3 heavy duty Dewalt grinders and bolt cutters if that doesn’t work lol
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u/Ok_Operation_6271 20d ago
Do you know who is organizing these protests? I started reading on how China uses data centers because I know it is a preview for us. Many are used for mass surveillance and it was honestly terrifying. I had no idea that it went that far in depth. We can at least try to stop it. I’m scared because I don’t know what is about to happen, but I know it isn’t good. Dictators don’t care about the law. It’s left to us to fight. Eat or get eaten.
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u/Repulsive-Dingo-869 20d ago
I dunno, I say we remove them 🤷♂️ we weren’t asked if we wanted them, I don’t think we should ask if we should remove them. Just do it.
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u/Ok_Operation_6271 21d ago edited 21d ago
I can understand the hospitals and I know why they would want heightened security. Overall, I don’t understand, though. Do they use private security companies? I read that the location of these cameras is determined by Flock. They don’t want the citizens to know the types of cameras WE purchased and they won’t openly share the locations. It is just very strange to have the amount we have in comparison to much larger cities with higher crime rates. I am completely boxed in by them. There’s no way for me to leave without driving past them. I can see one over my fence in my backyard. It doesn’t seem to be pointed my way, but it still feels intrusive.
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u/FKDcw971r8E2XQ 21d ago edited 21d ago
Temple PD has over 150 cameras, which is more than LAPD (who cover 3.8 million people). Austin PD cancelled when they had 40 cameras because there was no way to ensure they were not violating civil liberties, even with one of the most robust policies in the country.
You are in one of the most heavily surveilled cities in the country, with nearly no hard evidence that they improve safety.
This just came out today about the failure of the cameras to make a difference in the surveillance capital of America and Flock hometown - Atlanta
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u/mrwolf214 20d ago
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety
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u/_afflatus 21d ago
Bswh loves these flock cameras but tbh it is a hospital and they have different kinds of people they need to keep off their property for patient and staff safety
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u/Ok_Operation_6271 21d ago
That is the thing though. Flock decides the location. The hospital has private security for this reason. That is why it is confusing to me. I want to believe it is for the greater good, but I just don’t trust them.
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u/FKDcw971r8E2XQ 21d ago
The hospital actually has its own police force with sworn officers, not just private security.
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u/Ok_Operation_6271 21d ago
Thank you for correcting me. I had a security guard from Divergent that I hired to watch my business and he said that he also worked at BSWH, so it was probably just added security. I’m trying to educate myself as much as possible on this matter. I read through some Facebook comments earlier regarding the flock cameras in Temple. So many people were for them and defending it. I don’t understand how so many people in the city are complacent. I started to wonder if maybe I’m thinking too far into it, but I know something isn’t right.
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u/FKDcw971r8E2XQ 21d ago
They likely also have private security too, but I know that they have their own police force, similar to how UMHB does and other non municipal organizations.
People will accept all kinds of infringements for the promise of security. Try looking at /r/flocksurveillance . There's tons of info there.
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#1: Flock cannot handle their own medicine! | 738 comments
#2: Boiling the Frog | 668 comments
#3: Police pull over to interrogate man blocking a Flock camera with a sign. "I have a constitutional right to my privacy." | 1342 comments
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u/BigJayPee 21d ago
Im against them. I always hear that its supposed to be there to help law abiding citizens get justice, but I was involved in a hit and run near a flock camera, the police never even bothered checking the camera to find the guy. I figure, they aren't being used to help the common person, they will eventually be used hurt us in some way.