Grand jury declines to indict Ohio man charged with destroying Flock camera(san.com)
665 points by throw7 23 hours ago | 371 comments
tl;dr: An Ohio grand jury declined to indict Cody Morelock, who was charged with felony vandalism for allegedly destroying a Flock license plate reader camera in Union Township, and the charges were dismissed. The decision comes amid growing backlash against Flock's surveillance network, with dozens of cameras vandalized nationwide, a "De-Flock America Night" planned for Halloween, and over 100 documented cases of police abusing the system. Flock has announced new safeguards, though critics like the EFF call them "cosmetic" and want warrant requirements for data searches.
HN Discussion:
  • Explains legal context of grand juries and how rare non-indictments are
  • Suggests Flock cameras deserve to be vandalized for their valuable materials or as legitimate protest
  • Flock's surveillance extends beyond ALPR to cell/wifi/bluetooth data, justifying resistance
  • Expresses support for the defendant with sympathetic or celebratory reactions
  • Contrasts with UK normalization of ANPR surveillance, questioning the American backlash