logoalt Hacker News

DeKalb deputy charged with Flock camera misuse; more Georgia officers fired

65 pointsby pir8life4metoday at 12:41 AM33 commentsview on HN

Comments

roncesvallestoday at 1:07 AM

In a way, new companies like Flock entering such domains are a boon because they probably maintain tight audit logs and alerting mechanisms.

Traditional look-up software is probably being misused by cops all the time (à la the old noir trope of a PI having "a buddy in the department" who can look up anything for him).

show 3 replies
pir8life4metoday at 12:41 AM

At least seven other Georgia law enforcement officers were fired this month and charged with misusing the technology.

That includes a Henry County police officer who was fired and arrested last week following an investigation into his access of the Flock network, authorities there said.

jwsteigerwalttoday at 2:09 AM

If you want a bit of irony, look up the Flock CEO’s home address (not terribly difficult). You will see it’s blurred out on Google Maps Street View

show 1 reply
NetworkPersontoday at 1:01 AM

I'm not sure what to think here. Legitimate misuse, sure. But the article says at least one person only looked up their own license plate. I feel like that should be considered acceptable. It's not law enforcement usage specifically, but can't I grant myself the right to see information on my own vehicle?

Yes, devil's advocate could say if standard citizens can't, no one can. Just seems so minor it's not worth losing a job over. All other cases (including plates of family which you don't directly own), yes, investigate fully and apply appropriate actions.

show 6 replies
tclancytoday at 1:24 AM

Just going to leave this here. I grew up in Rhode Island in the Eighties and if a cop got turfed from the cops in Rhode Island, you pretty much know they did something right. https://youtu.be/f1P-g3Hkvjg?is=d-00G7YND4OJrUY3

readthenotes1today at 1:10 AM

Flock: You thought we put the cameras up to spy on you. Haha on the police who buy them and rat themselves out!

seventytwotoday at 1:14 AM

Gosh, no one could have predicted this.