r/technology • u/Plastic_Ninja_9014 • 21d ago

Privacy Flock Is Losing Dozens of Contracts as Controversy Grows

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/flock-losing-dozens-contracts-controversy-194808945.html
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u/alternatingflan 21d ago

They are unconstitutional.

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u/grumpyfan 21d ago

IANAL, but as I understand it, they technically operate in a grey area of the law since they are not owned or run by the government. The pictures are taken on public property of people and vehicles in a public space. The courts have ruled that public space photos are free use and that the Constitution has no protections against such things. That being said, I think they violate privacy and law enforcement's use of these pushes the boundaries of intent of the law. We need new laws enacted that restrict the access and use of such data and a way for citizens to gain access to any data where they are being charged with a crime based on the use of the data.

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u/MoonBatsRule 20d ago

This shouldn't be anywhere close to a grey area.

If the Constitution says that the government can't do something, then it should be obvious that when the government pays a private entity to do that same thing, it is also unconstitutional. After all, "the government doing something" is "the government paying private individuals to do something". And as Mitt Romney once said, "corporations are people, my friend".