A community for Lemmy users interested in privacy
Rules:
So like. Outlets?
I can't tell if this is satire, ragebait, or simple attempts at normalizing mass surveillance.
IANAL and you should do your own research, but my understanding of the dangers of something like a Flock camera is that it's a private company who surveils citizens and compiles the data into something that law enforcement can purchase without a warrant, effectively circumventing Americans' 4th amendment rights. In this case, it's a city device that can host a camera. I believe that the city would not be able to perform warrantless mass surveilence using these devices the same way that a private company can. I believe it's similar to those cameras on traffic signals that monitor the performance of the intersection but not perform ALPR data collection. It's a subtle but important difference.
I may have no idea what I'm talking about also, so if you are an authority on these matters or someone with industry knowledge, please correct me.
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.
Look at this guy with his 5-15s. Half the ones in my house are still 1-15.
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
By north you mean up, I assume.
And while that doesn't mean they can't install a camera, it does mean it would be the worst possible orientation. It would have to be a big ball on top or an assembly that came down underneath the lamp to point the camera at the ground.
You could also plug in a non-camera sensor, like a Stingray cell phone snooper. Those are omnidirectional.
But the bottom line is "you can plug stuff into power outlets", which is not really a story.
no. by north I mean north. the direction in which sunlight most quickly dissipates in the northern hemisphere. this allows streetlights to turn on mid-dusk instead of pure darkness
if I meant up I would say up. I've handled, repaired, and inspected thousands of these devices and am very familiar with their function. none of them contain cameras or other surveillance hardware. the day I see otherwise is the day I share that information as broadly as possible, and also the day I start sabotaging.
I'm saying that this is not a real threat to personal privacy.
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.
I want to get of Onii-san's ~~cock~~ ride.
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.