this post was submitted on 28 May 2026
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Regretful cities aren't sure how to cancel their surveillance contracts, so they are literally covering their cameras.

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[–] roserose56@lemmy.zip 31 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Do also the other thing, where you brake it apart. Same thing, but it's permanently.

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 8 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

I read the beginning of the title as "Cities are Cowering" and now I think it could easily be a part of an alternate title.

Like your the damn government... Just remove the devices, tell Flock where they can pick them up in the next two weeks otherwise they will be sold as is on open market and pay the termination fee or potential lawsuit. Cities get sued like all the time and I am confident even a moderately competent lawyer could find a cheap way out.

[–] vapordays@leminal.space 6 points 6 days ago

Or accelerate it apart

[–] anon_8675309@lemmy.world 37 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Makes them more easily identifiable so they can be properly disposed of.

[–] GioGioMioGio@feddit.org 4 points 6 days ago

I guess technically they already are in a trashbag.

[–] ZombieCyborgFromOuterSpace@piefed.ca 37 points 6 days ago (1 children)

You can 100% remove them with a baseball bat.

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[–] MrKoyun@lemmy.world 18 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (5 children)

Why aren't they just... Removing them?

Oh. Its probably because removing them is unnecessarily complicated so they need the company to come do it for them.

[–] bold_atlas@lemmy.world 25 points 6 days ago (5 children)

You don't have to worry about a complicated removal if you have an angle grinder.

[–] lando55@lemmy.zip 4 points 6 days ago

You'd be surprised how few worries I have when I'm brandishing an angle grinder

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[–] frostysauce@lemmy.world 14 points 6 days ago (5 children)

If you had read the article you'd know that the cities aren't sure if they can remove them under the terms of their contracts with flock. So they're covering them while working that out.

[–] MrKoyun@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

I in fact did not read the article.

[–] CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works 7 points 5 days ago

I'm pretty sure one city did remove them and then Flock just came and put new ones up which is what lead to the trash bags.

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[–] W3dd1e@lemmy.zip 14 points 6 days ago (1 children)

This is an better idea. I was going to shoot them with a paintball gun.

[–] ilinamorato@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

iirc, paintball marker is slightly translucent, right? So maybe like...a sticker?

[–] W3dd1e@lemmy.zip 5 points 6 days ago (3 children)

Some of the cameras by me are a little high up, which is why initially I thought paintball.

I bet I could fly a drone with a trash bag over it though.

[–] ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net 9 points 5 days ago

One of those spray-can extension poles would probably work pretty well.

[–] glitch1985@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago

Must have been a scary ghost that disabled those spy cameras.

[–] Widdershins@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

My neighbor used to put marbles in his paintball gun

This is why you don't sign contracts without an obvious out.

[–] addie@feddit.uk 16 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I'd like to think that the bag is step 1. Step 2 is to balance an old car tire on top, and set it on fire.

[–] KillerWhale@orcas.enjoying.yachts 30 points 6 days ago (2 children)

I love the theatrics of it, but surely something less polluting can achieve the same results

[–] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 6 points 6 days ago

Guillotines?

[–] felbane@lemmy.world 6 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)
  1. City installs trash bags because they're contractually obligated to keep the devices installed and powered on
  2. Someone hosts an impromptu Office Space fan meetup, with a fun reenactment of the printer scene
  3. City sees this, responds with an obvious but legally non-actionable tweet response suggesting it continue (e.g. "Fartsburg loves Mike Judge films, too! So nice to see our citizens enjoying the various forms of recreation and socialization ths city has to offer."), along with some conspicuously-placed garbage cans near all of the cameras' installed locations.
  4. ???
  5. (No) Profit. (for Flock)
[–] NehpetsDoom@lemmy.zip 7 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Trash bags just do that sometimes...

[–] glitch1985@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago

Getting the plastic bag scene from American Beauty vibes.

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 7 points 6 days ago

I'm surprised Dayton is doing even that. It's a low bar, sure, but it's also Dayton.

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Article reminded me that some people say "by accident" (me) and some say "on accident" (my cousins).

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[–] Pat_Riot@lemmy.today 10 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Cool Hand Luke has a tutorial

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[–] Sirdubdee@piefed.social 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I wonder how safe the poles are, compared to well tested road signs that are up. Those easily break off when hit. Will you end up with a solar panel through your windshield in an accident? I feel like one good lawsuit could make Flock have to replace every one of them if a lawyer can convince 12 people that they are a physical danger.

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