The 404 Media Podcast ICE's Backdoor Into a Nationwide AI Surveillance Network
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May 28, 2025 Dive into the world of Flock's automatic license plate readers and their unsettling connection to ICE, highlighting how local law enforcement unwittingly aids in a nationwide surveillance network. Discover the new invasive capabilities of Nova, which plans to aggregate hacked data for law enforcement use. Gain insights into the ethical dilemmas surrounding surveillance tech and the implications of data breaches, all while reflecting on the profound transformation of privacy in urban spaces.
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Flock: Nationwide ALPR Network
- Flock is a nationwide AI-enabled automatic license plate reader (ALPR) network used by police and communities.
- Police can search license plate data across many cameras nationwide, expanding surveillance reach.
ICE's Backdoor Access to Flock
- Audit reports reveal local police accessed Flock cameras millions of times, often for immigration enforcement.
- This shows ICE obtains access to the surveillance network unofficially through local police departments.
Informal Federal Access Concerns
- ICE lacks direct contracts for Flock but gains access by local police performing searches for them.
- This informal backdoor lacks oversight, raising concerns about federal use of local surveillance tools.