r/technology • u/AdSpecialist6598 • 16h ago

Society Federal Judge Rules a Flock Search Was ‘Indiscriminate Mass Surveillance’ and Unconstitutional

https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/03/federal-judge-calls-flock-indiscriminate-mass-surveillance/
1.3k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

61

u/gwarrior5 15h ago

Can’t wait for my four dollar class action check in thirty years.

-3

u/petit_cochon 14h ago

It wasn't a class action.

39

u/TheBoosThree 15h ago

That's a good start, but the problem is that the judge only ruled that way because they didn't get a warrant first. Not that the collection of the data without a warrant was unconstitutional, that the search of that data without a warrant was. Given that judges are oftentimes rubber stamps when it comes to warrants, this isn't the path to stopping these violations of our rights.

12

u/petit_cochon 14h ago edited 13h ago

Yes, because that was the legal issue being raised in this case. They were challenging the evidence as "fruit of the poisonous tree," which is an established constitutional law doctrine. It wasn't a case about whether Flock can collect data. It was about whether law enforcement can use that data without a warrant or even reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. It cannot.

Whether a judge improperly issues a warrant is a different issue.

-1

u/junkyardgerard 14h ago

Lol "established" - a word used by Republicans to indicate what they intend to overturn

5

u/BoppinMonkey 14h ago

Since Flock is a private company, they’re not constitutionally or legally prohibited from collecting data. A judge can’t prevent them from operating. That would require an act of Congress. 

7

u/bp92009 12h ago

No, but they can prevent any law enforcement agency from using those cameras without a specific warrant.

That would obliterate their business model, and make opposition to them far easier.

Either they explicitly operate in conjunction with law enforcement agencies, or they operate within the private market.

They're doing both, but are selling the public on the idea that they're only doing the former.

1

u/Dismal-Berry1400 10h ago

Difference between Flock, credit card receipts and ATM cameras with a warrant?

3

u/O-parker 14h ago

FukFlok and those like them

3

u/kckman 12h ago

Fascinating! I wonder what the Trump Administration will rule after Flock cuts them a check.

3

u/fjbruzr 10h ago

The Supreme Court’s going to overrule that.

1

u/A_Nonny_Muse 3h ago

Wouldn't it be awesome if the SCOTUS ruled that no government entity (at any level) can access flock cameras without a specific warrant?

I can see a sudden rush to hire independent companies to perform surveillance monitoring on behalf of govt. agencies (like city police, FBI, etc..) Aaaand we'll be right back where we started.