A community for Lemmy users interested in privacy
Rules:
You know what else is a "standardized NEMA socket"? Literally all the outlets in your house. NEMA 5-15p. This is like freaking out that they're putting electrical outlets inside buildings because, in theory, someone could plug a surveillance camera into one.
So you're saying it's basically USB? A camera can be plugged into a USB socket, should we be scared of them?
If your city council wants to turn your city into a surveillance state, they'll do it regardless of which technology enables it. Pay attention to local politics, elect people opposed to surveillance and those who would support laws preventing it. Don't get paranoid about open standards that make your city more efficient.
I don't think paranoia about the connection standard was the goal here. It seems more likely to me they wanted to increase awareness of the fact there are FAR less obvious (and absurdly easy) ways for governments to spy on citizens than Flock's installations.
Even if the goals of the government for installing such hardware are above board, they aren't known for being the most mindful of security so these systems can often be hacked and abused by malicious entities. It's something that really does need well thought out limitations set.
The issue is that they can do it without anyone knowing, it has no approval or denial process involved. You hear about flock now, but this is a new technology that most aren't looking at and isn't regulated.
If there was a hidden, little-discussed USB port at the top of every streetlight, that might be a cause for concern, yes
as someone that installs streetlights, I have never come across one of these. they are simply photocells. also the only opening in the housing points north, which only allows possible surveillance in one direction.
i wouldn't worry about this for now.
that being said, my country is behind most others as far as surveillance goes
I want to get of Onii-san's ~~cock~~ ride.
That small stub on top of nearly every LED streetlight? Most people assume it’s a photocell — a dumb sensor that flips the light on at dusk. It’s not. Or not just that. It’s a standardized NEMA socket, and cities are quietly filling it with IoT controllers, environmental sensors, wireless gear, and cameras. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association defines how these connectors work, and the resulting plug-and-play architecture means a streetlight can become a surveillance node about as easily as you’d swap a light bulb. Energy savings sold the project. What got built is infrastructure for AI-driven monitoring.
The efficiency benefits are real. The surveillance potential is equally real. Governance frameworks capable of separating the two barely exist right now. What cities call infrastructure, civil-liberties advocates increasingly call a mesh. The streetlight just stands there either way.
Ironically, reads like AI and i counted like 8 or 9 emdashes in that tiny article.
I'm on the fence about the reputability of this site, but besides the dashes, there don't seem to be any major red flags.