AI Surveillance System Expands to New State

AI-Powered Mass Surveillance System Takes Root in Wyoming

A national mass surveillance system boosted by artificial intelligence (AI) has made its way to the town of Jackson, Wyoming.

The town council recently voted in favor of installing 30 solar-powered license plate recognition (LPR) cameras throughout the streets and traffic lights. These cameras are part of a centralized surveillance system managed by the private company Flock Safety. Jackson is the first town in Wyoming to implement this technology.

While some council members expressed reluctance about the decision, they ultimately agreed to move forward. Councilman Jonathan Schechter, for example, voiced his concerns about the negative implications of this technology.

“I don’t like this particular arc of this particular part of history,” said Schechter. “I’m screaming ‘stop’ as I vote ‘yes.’”

The cameras in Jackson are part of Flock Safety’s “Falcon” line, which includes different models of AI surveillance technology. These models, named after birds, serve various purposes. Raven is an audio device that detects sounds of crime, while Wing combs through footage for specific vehicle identifiers. Condor provides a live feed with zooming capabilities. Flock Safety refers to its AI-powered mass surveillance system as “TALON.”

TALON has sparked controversy due to its resemblance to the surveillance technology depicted in TV dramas like “Person of Interest” and “Black Mirror.” However, Flock Safety emphasizes that their cameras only capture and retain data on license plates and vehicles, not individuals, for a limited period of time.

Despite these assurances, Flock Safety’s AI program can predict personal associations through “convoy analysis,” which identifies vehicle proximity and travel patterns. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has criticized Flock Safety’s technology as “Orwellian.”

Flock Safety’s cameras have been installed in over 2,000 cities across 43 states, and homeowners associations (HOAs) can also purchase and share their footage with law enforcement. The cameras offer features such as customized “hot lists” of license plates, which are automatically cross-referenced with police watchlists.

Furthermore, Flock Safety’s CEO, Garrett Langley, has acknowledged that their technology could potentially be used by immigration authorities for deportation purposes, depending on the legality in each state.

Flock Safety, founded in 2017, has received significant venture capital funding and is valued at around $3.5 billion. Its main competitor, Motorola Solutions, operates a similar database.

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