美国监控摄像头公司Flock设备遭协调破坏 引发隐私争议

美国监控摄像头公司Flock Safety的设备在包括休斯顿在内的多个城市遭到协调破坏，反映了公众对该公司AI驱动监控系统的深层担忧。1这家2017年创立的公司已在全国7000多个社区部署约100000部摄像头，用于自动车牌识别和人脸识别。1仅休斯顿METRO运输局就拥有35部摄像头，但可访问该网络中约20000部设备。1

尽管Flock CEO宣称该技术已帮助解决约100万宗犯罪案件、找到超过10000名失踪人员，但公司面临越来越多的隐私和权力滥用指控。1肯塔基州一名警官因使用Flock系统追踪前女友超过2000次而被控告，德克萨斯州约翰逊县一名侦探则搜索了80000多张图像试图查找涉嫌堕胎的女性，且未获搜查令。1

这些问题促使许多社区重新考虑与Flock的合作。1自2021年以来，超过200个社区取消或未续约合同，仅8月份就有90个社区取消。1洛杉矶、西雅图和奥斯汀等城市均已退出该系统。1与此同时，纪念村警察部门在购买Flock前年均追回3辆被盗汽车，现在增至45辆，显示该技术在某些应用中的有效性。1

Flock Safety's surveillance network has become the target of coordinated attacks across multiple U.S. cities, reflecting growing public opposition to the company's monitoring practices.1 The firm, founded in 2017, operates approximately 100,000 cameras deployed across more than 7,000 communities nationwide, primarily for automated license plate recognition and facial identification.1 In Houston's Old Braeswood neighborhood and in Minnesota, California, and Georgia, multiple Flock cameras have been deliberately cut down and damaged.1

The sabotage incidents underscore mounting concerns about the technology's potential for abuse.1 A Kentucky police officer was charged with using the Flock system to track his ex-girlfriend over 2,000 times, while a detective in Johnson County, Texas searched more than 80,000 images attempting to identify a woman suspected of abortion-related crimes—all without obtaining a search warrant.1 Meanwhile, the Harris County Sheriff's Office employs Clearview AI facial recognition technology, which contains over 7 billion images.1 In response to similar privacy violations, New York's information commissioner fined Clearview AI £7.5 million.1

The public backlash has accelerated contract cancellations. Since 2021, more than 200 communities have terminated or declined to renew agreements with Flock, with 90 communities canceling contracts in August alone.1 Despite these setbacks, Flock's CEO maintains that the technology has helped resolve approximately 1 million crime cases and locate over 10,000 missing persons.1 Memorial Village Police Department reported recovering only 3 stolen vehicles annually before Flock's installation, compared to 45 vehicles per year afterward.1 Houston's METRO transit authority, which owns 35 cameras, has access to approximately 20,000 devices across Flock's broader network.1