A cosplayer portraying Darth Vader sarcastically endorsed San Diego's controversial Flock surveillance cameras during a City Council committee meeting, using the iconic villain's persona to underscore privacy concerns.
The individual, identified as Darth Vader, addressed the Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee, referencing Emperor Palpatine and stating, "The Emperor is a fan of Flock." The cosplayer continued, "And we must continue utilizing Flock technologies so that we can follow and surveil the Rebel scum as they move from playground to playground, from playground to pool, from pool to gymnasium." This statement was delivered with heavy breathing, mimicking the character.
Despite the seemingly pro-surveillance remarks, the cosplayer's appearance was intended as satire. Many in the audience displayed signs reading, "Get the Flock Out!" The appearance comes amid growing scrutiny of Flock Safety's AI-enabled license plate readers, which are deployed in over 120,000 locations nationwide. Critics, including civil rights groups and lawmakers, have raised significant privacy concerns, citing instances of data misuse and potential for tracking immigrants.
Several cities have discontinued their use of Flock cameras due to fears that data could be shared with federal authorities for deportation purposes. Recent reports have also detailed instances where law enforcement officials allegedly misused the system to stalk individuals. The Los Angeles Police Department recently paused its relationship with Flock, though a new agreement with enhanced data safeguards is reportedly under negotiation.
In San Diego, approximately 500 Flock cameras are installed on streetlights. The system records license plate numbers, dates, times, locations, and vehicle descriptors. San Diego police state the data is encrypted, stored securely for 30 days, and automatically deleted unless part of an active investigation. Police Captain Charles Lara has described the technology as "game-changing" for the department, particularly given staffing shortages, while Lieutenant Kristopher McAndrew asserted that the "vast majority of data is never viewed" and is not shared with external agencies or private entities.
During the meeting, the Darth Vader impersonator, allotted two minutes of speaking time, made further sarcastic remarks, including, "I need this so I can stalk my ex-girlfriend." The cosplayer urged council members to consider residents' trust and questioned their votes on surveillance technology. The remarks concluded with a reference to finding "Rebel scum" and Luke Skywalker, emphasizing the perceived necessity of such technology, albeit in a satirical context.
