You Can Now Destroy Flock Cameras for Cash in GTA V

1:15 PM ETDeveloping

Technology Desk

In Short: In a new update, players can now destroy Flock cameras in GTA V, reflecting real-world protests against surveillance technology.

In a move that mirrors real-world protests against surveillance technology, Rockstar Games has added a feature to Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) that allows players to destroy Flock cameras. This addition, which was inspired by the real-life vandalism of Flock cameras, provides a virtual outlet for players to vent their frustrations.

According to reports from WIRED, the mod in GTA V features 235 Flock cameras scattered around the fictional Los Santos, a city based on Los Angeles. Players can smash and shoot down these cameras, earning $600 for each one destroyed. This price was set by Kolman, who based it on a teardown of a Flock Falcon Flex Camera by the Iowa-based civil liberties group Eyes Off of Cedar Rapids.

The in-game cameras log every interaction, creating a photo album of the player's actions. This feature adds a layer of realism to the experience, making the destruction of the cameras feel more impactful. However, the high density of cameras in some areas can make the game unplayable, as passing by them while being chased by the police can prolong the game’s cooldown period.

In real life, vigilantes have taken matters into their own hands, using spray paint, saws, bullets, and even flaming projectiles to destroy Flock cameras. The mod in GTA V not only provides a virtual outlet for these frustrations but also serves as a commentary on the misuse of surveillance technology by law enforcement.

Kolman, the creator of the mod, notes, "But I think there is a public appetite for some kind of cathartic release against these machines." The mod also includes a 5 percent chance that the cameras will trigger a random police response, even if the player isn't doing anything wrong. This feature is inspired by news reports about innocent people being held at gunpoint due to ALPR errors, highlighting the real-world implications of such technology.

The addition of this feature in GTA V reflects the growing public concern over surveillance technology and its potential misuse. As more states and governors take steps to curtail the use of Flock cameras, the game provides a platform for players to express their dissatisfaction in a controlled environment.

What's still developing

Apple planned to introduce high-end in-ear AirPods with built-in cameras for analyzing the surrounding environment at today's event, but the launch has been pushed to next year, Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman reports.
An NPR analysis found that Flock cameras have been vandalized in at least 36 states.
The tide is turning in other places too—governors in both Texas and Florida recently took steps to curtail the use of Flock cameras in their respective states, and across the US, there were 131 Flock contract terminations in August alone, according to the anti-surveillance advocacy group Secure Justice.
People are not happy about Flock Safety’s automated license plate readers and the cops that allegedly misuse them.

Sources

WIREDlink