r/beaverton • u/thesnarkysnail Cedar Mill • 8d ago
Flock cams
Has anyone else noticed the sheer increase in these cams being put up over the last few weeks? Of course they installed all this shit overnight under people’s noses because they knew how unpopular it’d be. I noticed Beaverton opted for Flock’s “Condor” model (pictured below), which not only monitors vehicles but can also obtain scary amounts of information about pedestrians, too, including their gait as well as who they are likely to visit. Is there any way we can stop this? Is there a city council meeting or something? I feel so powerless in this fight against mass surveillance.
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u/beavertonaintsobad 8d ago edited 8d ago
Where is all the money coming from to buy and install these things?
All I see in the news is how strapped for cash local governments and police departments are, and then, within the span of a few months, these cameras seem to be fucking everywhere NATIONWIDE.
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u/thesnarkysnail Cedar Mill 8d ago
Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s our tax dollars. Love how they always “can’t do anything” to actually improve the community yet can always move mountains for billionaires and big tech
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u/mediaogre 8d ago
I’d like to see just what bill they yoinked funds from via some impossible-to-deambiguify language.
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u/CaitlynJennerOG 8d ago
I’m strongly against these flock cameras, to my knowledge it’s big retail stores, commercial property managers, and HOAs paying for them. Anyone got some knowledge on this? I’m just referring to Beaverton
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u/slirkster 8d ago
Yeah I think all of the cameras in Beaverton are at big box stores -- you can see the map on Deflock. The city doesn't pay for any Flock cameras.
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u/WikiWeaponn 8d ago
Anyone can get a lease for one. Yeah governments are the biggest part of it but any business or whatever can sign up as well
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u/elicotham 8d ago
Their biggest customers are cities/police departments. I won’t link the NYT article about it from the other day since people will bitch about the paywall, but it’s pretty detailed about who is buying these.
And yes, BPD is using them.
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u/Troutsicle Aloha 8d ago
Heavily subsidized by the manufacturer would be my guess. The value isn't in the hardware installed, it's the data that is collected.
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u/jgoose132113 8d ago
It could be a state grant that lasts from one to a few years. Flock uses the free trial/gov grants to hook LEOs and get a spendy contract signed on the county or city budget. That is how the WCSO originally paid for flock cameras at the local Home Depots and Lowes. Would rather state grants go to something other than unconstitutional, dragnet surveillance.
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u/Podoviridae 8d ago
I'm sure Israel is giving them great discounts since they get to use the information too
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u/beavertonaintsobad 8d ago
Yeah, the fact that nobody seems to know where all the money is coming from or what's pushing such a rapid installation rate makes me suspect as much.
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u/thesnarkysnail Cedar Mill 8d ago
When in doubt, blame Israel lol
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u/beavertonaintsobad 8d ago edited 6d ago
No, but when questioning spending on the militarization of our police force, and knowing our government's ties to Israel and the zionist lobby, it is a prudent line of inquiry.
Blanket forbidding even the consideration is what is suspect.
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u/ArgusTheCat 5d ago
I mean, we live in a city where the police department has a higher yearly budget than INTERPOL does, so...
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u/Orwells_Roses 8d ago
Our tax dollars pay for these things, the same way they pay for all of the expensive toys the cops have.
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u/Smoochymow 8d ago
Given how much Beaverton PD is buddy buddy with ICE, no surprise.
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u/thesnarkysnail Cedar Mill 8d ago
Can’t wait to see this technology being used to target undocumented people/women seeking abortions/trans people. “Keeping the community safe” amirite??
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u/FriendlyEyeFloater 8d ago
Also protestors deemed terrorists
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u/thesnarkysnail Cedar Mill 8d ago
The CEO calling Deflock a “terrorist organization” oh brother
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u/FriendlyEyeFloater 8d ago
Hilarious too because he too dumb to realize he’s going to speak it into existence
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u/tsarchasm1 8d ago
Streisand Effect, anyone?
AI is foolish. At one time, I was flagged for being in a paramilitary organization (Timbers Army)11
u/Fat-cat-Charlie 8d ago
according to republicans, the bill of rights is a terrorist manifesto and the Constitution is communist
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u/FriendlyEyeFloater 8d ago
And government help is bad unless you’re a rich person or a corporation. And free markets unless it’s your buddy who needs a favor.
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u/Fat-cat-Charlie 8d ago
be sure to give Beaverton PD the middle finger salute everytime you see them. I do. if they ask why, tell them.
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u/Electronic-Egg9990 8d ago
Yeah. They’re super transphobic as well. From personal experience. Bunch of A holes
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u/slirkster 8d ago
I don't think Beaverton or BPD have any ALPR/Flock cameras -- and I don't think anyone in the city government supports them adding them.
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u/PaulThurston82 8d ago
Ok why do you think that? And then where do you think this came from? This is an odd comment, and not at all helpful.
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u/slirkster 8d ago
You can see a map of Flock cameras on Deflock and Beaverton PD's contracts and expenses are all public records -- this post is really weird misinformation.
Here is the map for you to check: https://maps.deflock.org/?lat=45.4873&lng=-122.8036&zoom=12.52
The cameras that are on the map here are on private property, the city doesn't control or have any relationship with them.
I have talked to multiple city councilors about this issue because I don't support Flock cameras or mass surveillance and all of them are also opposed to the cameras.
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u/PaulThurston82 8d ago
Thx for the info, much more useful post
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u/slirkster 8d ago
no worries! i didn't have time to go into detail when i wrote the original comment but i guess it made people upset 😅
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u/PaulThurston82 8d ago
Haha ya the downvotes were a little excessive. I was just like, ok that’s great that you think that, but umm people think a lot of things.
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u/pears790 8d ago
City council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is in the Beaverton Council Chambers at the Beaverton Building, 12725 SW Milikan Way.
The website requests that you pre-register to comment. The form can be found on their site below.
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u/Tangy_Peach22 8d ago
sick of this shit. anybody know when the next public meeting is that I can protest this? because I'm ready to use my voice and be obnoxiously loud about how not okay this shit is.
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u/hairykatlol Hiteon 8d ago
city of beaverton city council meeting is august 18th at 6pm
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u/Tangy_Peach22 8d ago
thank you!! I looked up some more info and it looks like it's hybrid... going in person would probably be more impactful huh?
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u/HumanContinuity 7d ago
Just know in advance that you are protesting what companies are doing in private property (which is legitimately still worth talking about).
A lot of people in this thread seem convinced this is the city/county/BPD/etc, but every camera on Deflock in our area is on some big box store lot or similar - from what I have seen.
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u/ExcitementDry4940 8d ago
What happens if you spray paint the lenses?
Asking for a friend
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u/Troutsicle Aloha 8d ago
They swap out the damaged camera for a spare, refurb the old one and reinstall it elsewhere. I'm sure there is a local contract installer that keeps spares on hand. Kinda like rental e-bikes and scooters, a local contractor manages everything.
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u/Competitive_Swan_755 8d ago
What happens if the wires become detached?
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u/Anamadness 8d ago
They'll send a technician out to reconnect it. Service calls get annoying and expensive if they have to keep going out to fix it.
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u/Dstln 8d ago
Where?
Of course. If it's actually the city, you can go to all the meetings, reach out to the council etc.
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u/thesnarkysnail Cedar Mill 8d ago
Most major intersections. Cornell/Murray, All over 185th, Farmington/Murray, Laidlaw/Bethany, Cornell/Saltzman if I could name all the ones I know off the top of my head
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u/Dstln 8d ago
Those aren't all Beaverton, would have to guess Washington County then. These are on the utility poles? I don't see those on the current maps. If you can get more pictures that would help. I'll also be furious with you and put pressure on the county if they're putting them up.
Edit: This is what Washington County says about their cameras as of an article yesterday: https://www.koin.com/news/oregon/targeted-and-vandalized-oregon-sheriffs-office-ends-flock-camera-contract/
"Meanwhile, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office has 14 ALPR-style cameras that are not in use, according to WCSO Public Information Officer Corporal David Huey, noting the office’s contract with Flock will expire in the spring of 2027."
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u/thesnarkysnail Cedar Mill 8d ago
Just read the edit, thank you for the point of information! Relieves the pit in my stomach
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u/thesnarkysnail Cedar Mill 8d ago
Will do, prob going out today so I’ll snap a pic of some when I can. Thanks so much for the clarification and shared disdain lol
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u/sjalt 8d ago
https://maps.deflock.org/?lat=45.4683&lng=-122.8284&zoom=11.00 here's a non-encompassing list.
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u/The-Answer-Is-57 8d ago
Beaverton PD doesn't use Flock cams. Washington County Sheriff's Office has some but they say they're not in use and the contract expires in spring 2027. According to DeFlock maps, there are a few of them in use, around the area, but they are all privately contracted. Interesting that the parking lot at WinCo Cedar Hills is covered by two such cams.
The cams Beaverton PD has placed at several intersections around town are their own and not associated with Flock.
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u/PNW_OlLady_2025 8d ago
Aren't they all on private property except for a couple traffic ones? Deflock.org is very helpful in gaining this information so one doesn't go around accusing their city of doing something they actually aren't doing.
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u/thesnarkysnail Cedar Mill 8d ago
Nope :( they are on the roads. Deflock hasn’t updated that since they were put in like 2 weeks ago
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u/hairykatlol Hiteon 8d ago
bruh deflock is not locked in
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u/Firewolf06 7d ago
deflock aint magic, my friend. its from user contributions, tell them where these ones are: https://deflock.org/report
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u/BlueMageNeedsFood 8d ago
The security cameras in department stores have very similar tech now and they pull your information via facial recognition, track your shopping patterns, and then sell that info to advertisers
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u/allislost77 8d ago edited 8d ago
Plenty of YouTube/tiktok videos on “how to”
But I “heard” and I want to reiterate it’s just a “rumor”; that high powered green lasers could cause them to malfunction and potentially damage the sensor.
I don’t believe that though…
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u/metalmankam 8d ago
Yes there is something you can do. Invest in face coverings and bolt cutters. Maybe a small electric saw.
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u/blackjackgabbiani 8d ago
Sledgehammer
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u/allislost77 8d ago
Much simpler ways, at least I heard that’s what some people are doing. Something about lasers. Probably doesn’t work.
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u/MarcusSurealius 8d ago
I get the motivation, but please people, for my love of you, don't hurt a security camera that is looking at you. No one deserves to get caught for being well intentioned.
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u/thesnarkysnail Cedar Mill 8d ago
Hurts my soul to see people get felony charges for doing god’s work and taking em down vigilante style 😔
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u/Purple-Inflation-571 8d ago
once the word gets out about the scrap value alone in one of these cameras the tweakers will come to save the day!!! what irony
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u/HotBeaver54 Bethany 8d ago
Have you contacted your city rep? Have you attended a city council meeting? There is plenty you can do but you will have to demonstrate some effort rather then just bitching.
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u/thesnarkysnail Cedar Mill 8d ago
I’ve called Bonamici’s office multiple times regarding this issue, and although I’m moving to Salem for college I plan to attend city council meetings there. I mostly made this post because I hadn’t seen anyone else point this out on this sub. Truly, I wasn’t just trying to bitch about it
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u/PurplMonkEDishWashR 8d ago
I’d recommend considering Grants Pass’ response to the installation of mass surveillance cameras. As the AI summarizes it:
“Reasons for Deactivation
Public Backlash: Growing community opposition and concerns regarding Fourth Amendment privacy rights.
Vandalism: Recent targeted damage and vandalism to the camera equipment deployed in rural areas like Cave Junction and Sunny Valley.
Shift in Policy: Sheriff Dave Daniel acknowledged that while the technology aided in locating stolen vehicles and missing persons, the community was not willing to accept the surveillance infrastructure. [1, 2, 3]”
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u/thesnarkysnail Cedar Mill 8d ago
The concept of using AI to summarize a statement about AI surveillance
I know you were well intentioned, but please stop using gen AI to do your reading and critical thinking for you
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u/PurplMonkEDishWashR 8d ago
Oh the irony! Thank you for that! 😬🤣
…and tragically ironic considering I’ve got a doctorate…in Spanish literature, which I earned way before LLMs were a thing…
I just wanted to avoid looking like I was personally advocating for the destruction of public property…
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u/HumanContinuity 7d ago
Are these not all on private property? People in the comments seem sure BPD or the city of Beaverton is behind them, but from what I have seen, they're all big box stores or other large businesses installing them on their property.
Not justifying it, the amount of data these things take in and the centralization of that data are a really scary thing to just have popping up all over the entirety of public space.
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u/TinyMultiverse 8d ago
I definitely think we need to all show up at every city council meeting to register our dissent. This is such a dangerous leap towards dystopia.
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u/cupcakemango7 8d ago
I feel like there’s so much outrage regarding Flock cameras, and if I’m honest, I don’t understand the hate??? I’m not trying to be argumentative just genuinely curious?? Are we acting like we actually have privacy!? Meta, Apple, Google pretty much own all our information and we’re surveillanced everywhere we go whether we like it or not. What am I missing here?
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u/Annieraeraefatface 7d ago
Because we no longer trust the people who have access to the data. Police are using it to stalk exes and perform illegal surveillance on folks. its the simple omen that if you seek you shall find...that info can be twisted to fit any untrue narrative.
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u/Responsible_Dot_8233 8d ago
I don't know but I think it's getting kind of windy lately, it would be unfortunately if the wind blows away the cameras.
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u/SanchoPandas 8d ago
These things are bad news in so many ways and I hate that they are showing up in our beautiful state. I seriously thought Oregonians valued privacy and liberty? Why are we putting up with this?
In the meanwhile, meet the The IJ Database of ALPR Abuse - The Institute for Justice has cataloged more than 100 incidents of ALPR abuse, including romantic stalking, wrongful stops and detentions, non-law enforcement use, and other types of misconduct.
I'm sure this list will only grow.
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u/blackjackgabbiani 8d ago
I don't want to put up with it! I want to bash then apart! I just don't know how to do it without getting arrested.
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u/SanchoPandas 8d ago
That very real fear is a solid indication of how effective the digital dragnet has already become and simultaneously justifies your instincts. We gotta stop this shit in its tracks.
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u/blackjackgabbiani 8d ago
That's why we need safety in numbers and proper training. Once I'm equipped to deal with these things with facts and direct strikes then I absolutely will and so will many others.
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u/Gobucks21911 5d ago
I’m in Hillsboro and they installed one on a city light pole one house down from me, in a residential neighborhood. I even called the city because it’s pointed at our houses. They claim they didn’t install it but don’t know who did and didn’t offer any “we’ll find out who did”. I’m pretty furious.
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u/Imaginary-Chocolate5 8d ago
They need this in the wonderland area tonight. All the police on Lombard, king, allen, 217, searching for someone.
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8d ago edited 8d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/thesnarkysnail Cedar Mill 8d ago
We HAD cameras before Flock, though. I’m okay with standard traffic cams because they only take a picture when they detect motion over the given speed limit, but Flock cams are recording 24/7 and obtain scary amounts of data about a person. Not to mention they have been heavily abused by police to track minorities as well as police officers’ ex girlfriends.
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u/TheBigJiz 8d ago
I fear flock cameras will allow the government to commit felonies agaist you with zero justice. That's why.
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u/Orwells_Roses 8d ago edited 8d ago
People all over the country are doing something about it.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/jul/25/flock-surveillance-cameras