The 404 Media Podcast We Tracked Ourselves with Exposed Flock Cameras
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Dec 24, 2025 This week dives into the startling revelations about Flock's AI-powered cameras, which were exposed online and could zoom in on bystanders, even capturing their personal screens. The hosts discuss their investigative journey to locate these unsecured cameras and the implications of such pervasive surveillance technology. They also touch on vulnerabilities in government websites and the alarming risks associated with age verification laws for adult content, highlighting the growing concerns around privacy and security in a tech-driven world.
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Flock Uses Pan‑Tilt‑Zoom Cameras Too
- Flock's Condor PTZ cameras stream 24/7 and can pan, tilt, and zoom to follow people across scenes.
- These differ from ALPR 'Falcon' cameras which target license plates rather than continuous pedestrian video.
How Researchers Found Exposed Cameras
- Use IoT search tools like Shodan to find exposed devices by fingerprinting unique ports or domain patterns.
- Verify exposures responsibly and avoid interacting beyond observation to prevent unauthorized access.
Reporter Drove To See A Camera Feed Live
- Jason drove to Bakersfield after geolocating feeds and watched himself appear live on the exposed Flock camera.
- He verified camera models and positions in person and confirmed they were part of a broader local surveillance setup.