Flock cameras have quickly become one of the most hated and controversial technologies in America. One Grand Theft Auto modder tapped into that anger, and the results are hilarious. Grand Theft Automated License Plate Reader (a spoof of Flock’s automated license plate recognition software) is a GTA 5 mod that places surveillance cameras all over Los Santos. These aren’t just cosmetic either, because if you commit a crime in view of these cameras, it will raise your Wanted level. What’s more, there’s a 1 in 20 chance the cameras will trigger a police chase for no reason; the modder, WTTDOTM, explained that this is meant to represent Flock’s history of inaccurate reporting.
“Grand Theft Automated License Plate Reader is a GTA 5 mod that installs 235 Flock Automated License Plate Reader cameras (ALPRs) around the in-game map of Los Santos,” the mod’s description reads. “This number is 1/10th the amount of Flock ALPRS currently tracked by DeFlock.org in LA County, which GTA 5 is heavily based on.” Users can opt in to having the cameras save pictures to their hard drive, complete with a watermark that parodies Flock’s own overlays.
Of course, players can also destroy these hated surveillance devices. Doing so nets $600, which is how much the camera’s internal hardware is worth based on teardowns of the tech (Flock charges the government much higher prices). The mod has built-in speedrunning support to help track how long it takes the player to fully DeFlock Los Santos.
Why do people hate Flock cameras so much?
Flock cameras have sparked widespread controversy, in part because the technology lets state and local governments monitor citizens without their consent. Flock cameras use AI to identify alleged crimes and automatically report them to the authorities. Even beyond the obvious privacy concerns, this technology is ripe for abuse.
There are dozens of reported cases of police officers using these AI-powered tools to illegally spy on former romantic partners. Flock cameras have been used to investigate women seeking abortion services, utilized by ICE without a warrant, and have led to numerous false arrests and detentions. The American Civil Liberties Union has repeatedly condemned the technology. Meanwhile, the DeFlock project is an open-source initiative that maps license plate readers across the country. Many have taken matters into their own hands, blocking and vandalizing these cameras as city and state governments continue to sign contracts with the company.
