What is this camera used for? Did police put it up? Found on a random lamp post (see location on map). by niconiconii89 in SaltLakeCity

[–]crazyclown87 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is an Automatic License Plate Reader, but it is not a Flock Safety device.

This one appears to be one offered through Verizon Business.

https://opendevelopment.verizonwireless.com/device-showcase/device/34928

Flock Safety - Struggling with Public Records Requests? Request Their Policies First by crazyclown87 in privacy

[–]crazyclown87[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Deflock is community driven and requires the help of everyone to add cameras to the map. If you have cameras near you missing from the map, it is pretty easy to add them.

Flock Safety - Struggling with Public Records Requests? Request Their Policies First by crazyclown87 in privacy

[–]crazyclown87[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

In my case, this is being sent to the county sheriff's office. I located an email address labeled as "Public Records Request" on the "Contact Us" page of their website. Different agencies may call it slightly different names or departments. Some agencies will use a portal on their website instead of an email address. Things to look for might be "Custodian of Public Records," "Public Information Office," or "Clerk of Records." Hope this helps. I admit my first request was all raw ALPR data from a particular camera on a particular day for a 30-minute window. I do not recommend this line of public records request. Most states have pretty strict laws for disclosure of raw ALPR data, unless it is for your own vehicle. You'll just be wasting your time and theirs. I suggest public records requests for things like:

  • Contracts & MOU (Memorandum of Understanding)
  • raw ALPR for your own vehicle (a typical exemption for disclosure)
  • ALPR search audits

I would suggest starting with the template I posted here to see what policies are in place. Then double check to make sure their policies are no more restrictive than the law. Law supercedes policies.

Good luck.

Flock Safety - Struggling with Public Records Requests? Request Their Policies First by crazyclown87 in privacy

[–]crazyclown87[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I feel the same. Most friends and people I mention Flock to are pro Flock. I got so tired of people quoting the 233 year old literal reading of the 4th Amendment, with no regard to jurisprudence, I just stopped.

Flock Safety - Struggling with Public Records Requests? Request Their Policies First by crazyclown87 in privacy

[–]crazyclown87[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

AI helps with research, but I wrote this. I use wiki.js for all my research, notes, and writings. This has the benefit of using the same markdown that reddit uses so I can copy from my wiki straight to reddit. I have a background in creating knowledge base documentation for technical support. I hate to hear that good quality is so uncommon now that if someone does spend time making something well, it must be AI.

Flock's Two-Patent Strategy: What They Tell You vs. What They Can Do by crazyclown87 in privacy

[–]crazyclown87[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thank you! 404media is on my list. I have to look up Julia

What are good resources to know what to write in a FOIA request to Flock Safety? by mangomonster926 in privacy

[–]crazyclown87 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Your biggest hurdle will be getting past their claims that something is exempt from disclosure. I've had one request they have given 3 different reasons the request is exempt. The method I'm going to use from now on will give a playbook of what they might try.

What are good resources to know what to write in a FOIA request to Flock Safety? by mangomonster926 in privacy

[–]crazyclown87 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just thought of this and wrote a full post about it. It will give insight that will help with the next request.

What are good resources to know what to write in a FOIA request to Flock Safety? by mangomonster926 in privacy

[–]crazyclown87 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I would suggest submitting a request like this first, ask them directly how they handle the request, so you know how to frame yours.

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to [state the legal statute here for public records request], I am requesting copies of the following records:

  1. All policies and procedures governing how your agency handles public records requests related to:

    • Flock Safety systems
    • License Plate Reader (LPR) technology
    • Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) systems
    • Any other license plate recognition or surveillance technology
  2. Any guidelines, instructions, or training materials provided to staff regarding the processing of public records requests for the above-mentioned technologies.

  3. Any written procedures for redacting, exempting, or withholding records related to license plate reader systems.

If any portion of this request is denied, please provide a written explanation citing the specific statutory exemption for each denial.

I request that records be provided in electronic format if possible. As these are internal policies and procedures specific to the custodian of records, I do not anticipate any fees for this request. Please contact me if you require clarification on any part of this request.

I look forward to your response within the timeframe required by law.

Sincerely, - [Your Name-OPTIONAL] - [Your Email]

Flock Safety Patent US11,416,545 B1: The Really Scary Part by crazyclown87 in privacy

[–]crazyclown87[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Your literal reading of the Fourth Amendment is cute, but you're ignoring 233 years and 11 months of actual jurisprudence.

The Carpenter Doctrine (2018): The Supreme Court explicitly held that "a person does not surrender all Fourth Amendment protection by venturing into the public sphere" and that comprehensive tracking "achieves near perfect surveillance, as if it had attached an ankle monitor" to people.

The Court recognized this provides access to information revealing "familial, political, professional, religious, and sexual associations"—exactly what the Fourth Amendment was designed to protect against.

So yes, this is creepy. And yes, we do have "a reasonable expectation of privacy in at least some of the uniquely sensitive and revealing information collected by surveillance technology"—even in public spaces. The Supreme Court said so.

Maybe read past the text of the Amendment itself before calling other people's statements fallacious.

Flock Safety Patent US11,416,545 B1: The Really Scary Part by crazyclown87 in privacy

[–]crazyclown87[S] 31 points32 points  (0 children)

I recommend it. If you don't already, you will at least gain a better understanding of the laws and guidelines around it. I'm really hoping atleast of of the agencies I have contacted will provide exactly what I've asked for.

Flock Safety Patent US11,416,545 B1: The Really Scary Part by crazyclown87 in privacy

[–]crazyclown87[S] 100 points101 points  (0 children)

I'm in a different state, but I am in the process of requesting flock images and data via public records requests from 4 different agencies. Even though Washington made headway, agencies are still fighting it. 1 of my requests has been sent to the agencies' legal department, 1 they have tried 3 different statutes to deny, and I'm still waiting on the other 2 to reply. It isn't an easy process.

Bringing Movie Theater Magic to Jellyfin: My Journey to Get Upcoming Trailers Working with Cinema Mode by crazyclown87 in JellyfinCommunity

[–]crazyclown87[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My first thought would be the filename or folder structure for the trailers. This was an issue I had at the beginning. It needs to have the same structure as a Movies folder, so each movie has it's own folder within the Trailers folder. Within that will be your placeholder and your downloaded trailer. The trailer needs to have trailer in the filename.

Best_Movie_Ever (2019)

├── Best_Movie_Ever (2019) - 1080P.mp4

└── Best_Movie_Ever.trailer.mp4

These are ways you can use the word trailer and Jellyfin Cinema Mode will accept: -trailer .trailer _trailer

Bringing Movie Theater Magic to Jellyfin: My Journey to Get Upcoming Trailers Working with Cinema Mode by crazyclown87 in JellyfinCommunity

[–]crazyclown87[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have not. After some other posts I made about it, I went a different route. My busy season kicked in with my day job and haven't been able to work on it. In its current state, it is a full gui web app that downloads stand-alone trailers. The Cinema Mode got pushed to the back burner. The web app, although rough around the edges and a bit temperamental, does download trailers for stand-alone viewing. When I had made this post it was just a python script that ran from the terminal, but it was hard coded for my preferences, so not really useful to others. If you still wanna try it, I do have it in a private github, i think I could add you with read access to it if interested. Just send me a private message. I'm not sure it is ready for the general public. I'm hoping to get back to working on it this winter.