Americans are smashing Flock cameras in a unified yet uncoordinated nationwide campaign of protest. These are technically illegal and criminal acts, but many defend them as necessary and morally justified because the Flock system itself is criminal.

The destruction of Flock cameras began last year and it’s been ramping up. Reports of random destruction seem to emerge daily. From California to Georgia, authorities are finding smashed cameras. The backlash appears apolitical. It is happening in blue areas, in red areas, and in swing areas. Some people are angry because police officers are abusing the Flock technology. The most common form of abuse includes cops using the system to track and stalk their ex girlfriends and their boyfriends. Several officers across the nation have pleaded guilty to this. Others are angry that ICE is using the Flock system to catch illegals. And some believe they’re a violation of the Fourth Amendment. A lot of people are motivated by a combination of those gripes, me included (I don’t care that ICE is using them to round up illegals, though).

It’s interesting that the public at large supports the destruction of these things. I don’t remember the last time that regular, law-abiding citizens generally supported, well, vandalism. But they are. I only know of one person who defends the Flock system. He’s a cop who genuinely views them as a tool that helps him protect the public. He means well.

But good intentions can never be the deciding factor of what policy or technology should be allowed. Policies and technology have ramifications that always go far beyond their stated intentions. And as Camus wisely observed, “The welfare of the people…has always been the alibi of tyrants.”

Listen to my diatribe (video above) for more thoughts on this.

More content from Paul

Article: Americans Destroying Flock Cameras in Protest

Article: The Two-party Illusion

Article: Will the GOP Civil War End the Neoconservatism Ruse?

Video: The two-party trick is a con to keep the wars going, the debt rising & your liberty dwindling. But it gets worse ..

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Paul Dragu is an award-winning newspaper journalist, a senior writer at The New American magazine, and the collaborative writer of Defector: A True Story of Tyranny, Liberty, and Purpose. You can email Paul at [email protected]

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