Government monitors anti-flock social media
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Government fusion centers are monitoring anti-Flock social media and warning police about DeFlock events. The surveillance blurs the line between civic activism and criminal activity.
Background
Flock Safety cameras, automated license plate readers, have faced growing backlash from activists who see them as invasive surveillance. Grassroots groups like DeFlock have organized protests and some vigilantes have destroyed cameras. In response, fusion centers—intelligence-sharing hubs created after 9/11—have circulated memos directing police to monitor anti-Flock advocacy and increase patrols around cameras.
How it unfolded
- Jul 2026Journalist Dan Boguslaw reports on fusion center memos in his Deeper States newsletter.
- Aug 10, 2026TechTimes reports that Flock cameras have been cut down in 23 states and fusion centers are surveilling activists.
- Aug 12, 2026404 Media publishes documents obtained via public records requests showing government monitoring of anti-Flock social media and warnings about upcoming DeFlock events.
- Aug 12, 2026NY Post reports the anti-Flock movement is unifying Democrats and Republicans.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Law enforcement agencies warn of 'extensive and ongoing chatter on social media' about methods to destroy Flock cameras.
- Activists
- Anti-Flock organizer Brian McKellar says the cameras remind him of 'sci-fi AI, like, the government’s-watching-you kind of movies.'
- Critics
- Critics argue that monitoring anti-Flock activists blurs the line between civic activism and criminal activity.
Still unverified
The specific contents of the intelligence bulletins are based on documents obtained by 404 Media and journalist Dan Boguslaw; the full extent of government monitoring is not independently verified.