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tptacektoday at 12:31 AM5 repliesview on HN

I never hear that question from Flock supporters. The question I hear[†] is "why shouldn't we be pulling over stolen cars?". It's a much harder one to answer than the straw man questions we set up for these things.

(To be clear: I think the current generation of ALPRs is a policy failure and that major changes need to happen inside state law enforcement systems before they can be deployed successfully. But I also think people on HN have a real problem in convincing themselves about the obvious righteousness of their anti-surveillance arguments.)

[†] I heard arguments like these because I was deeply involved in getting the cameras disabled in the inner-ring Chicago suburb in which I live, getting the first ACLU CCOPS ordinance in Illinois passed there, and helping draft what are probably the most detailed ALPR police General Orders in any municipality, or at least were at the time. Which is a long and pretentious way of saying I spent a lot of time talking to people who are not Very Online.


Replies

AdieuToLogictoday at 2:59 AM

>> Abuse by police officers and other individuals with access to these systems is the answer to the stupid but common question "why should I worry about surveillance if I have nothing to hide".

> I never hear that question from Flock supporters. The question I hear is "why shouldn't we be pulling over stolen cars?"

These are the same Constitutional question.

In order to determine what cars are stolen, all cars must be inspected. If all cars are inspected, there is a reasonable case that the 4th amendment is being violated:

  The right of the people to be secure in their persons, 
  houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches 
  and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall 
  issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or 
  affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be 
  searched, and the persons or things to be seized.[0]
> But I also think people on HN have a real problem in convincing themselves about the obvious righteousness of their anti-surveillance arguments.

See above.

0 - https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-4/

show 1 reply
aftbittoday at 1:38 AM

What was your answer then?

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unclebucknastytoday at 1:57 AM

>The question I hear is "why shouldn't we be pulling over stolen cars?". It's a much harder one to answer than the straw man questions we set up for these things.

The "why shouldn't we be pulling over stolen cars?" question is just a more specific variant of GP's "nothing to hide" question. i.e., the only people asking it are those who aren't stealing cars, thus have "nothing to hide".

The answer is the same.

Teevertoday at 1:45 AM

I see you make frequent comments on this subject and as time goes on I’m starting to have a harder and harder time following them.

I’m starting to think that you’re having a conversation with yourself and your perception of people online, not actual people and the things that they’re saying.