Welcome to DeFlock, your go-to resource for understanding and addressing the growing presence of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in our communities. Our mission is simple: to shine a light on the widespread use of ALPR technology, raise awareness about the threats it poses to personal privacy and civil liberties, and empower the public to… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Transportation
The Verge’s guide to the 2024 presidential election
The Verge: “A presidential campaign is an expression of ideology, often vocalized as a number of promises. Sometimes, those promises are made even when they’re outside the scope of what a president can enact. With Vice President Kamala Harris taking on former President Donald Trump, The Verge’s election guide attempts to cut through the noise… Continue Reading
Air Travel Service Complaint or Comment Form
New rules for airlines could help you get speedy refunds – Consumer protections just went into effect that require airlines to repay passengers for lost luggage and bad WiFi. DOT: Please use this form to file a complaint or comment about service you received or requested from an airline or ticket agent that does not… Continue Reading
USGS Releases New Products that Map Four Decades of Land Cover Change
The U.S. Geological Survey today released a newly updated and improved National Land Cover Database, known as Annual NLCD, which offers insights into the changing characteristics of landscapes across the conterminous United States from 1985 to 2023. The latest dataset incorporates assessments and projections into six new products, which will now be released on an… Continue Reading
Inside US Government-Bought Tool That Can Track Phones at Abortion Clinics
404 Media: “On a computer screen a map shows the movements of smartphones around the globe. Zooming into an abortion clinic in the south of the United States, the online tool shows more than 700 red dots over the clinic itself, each representing a phone, and by extension, a person. The tool, called Locate X and… Continue Reading
Compare Countries and Cities Around the World
MyLifeElsewhere is a collaborative community that allows you to compare the country you live in with other countries around the world. We’ll show you various statistics that differentiate your country from others, including cost of living, geographic size, and more. If you moved to another country, what would your life be like? Continue Reading
License Plate Readers Are Creating a US-Wide Database of More Than Just Cars
Wired [unpaywalled]: “…License-plate-recognition systems, broadly, work by first capturing an image of a vehicle; then they use optical character recognition (OCR) technology to identify and extract the text from the vehicle’s license plate within the captured image. Motorola-owned DRN sells multiple license-plate-recognition cameras: a fixed camera that can be placed near roads, identify a vehicle’s… Continue Reading
License Plate Readers Are Creating a US-Wide Database of Political Lawn Signs and Bumper Stickers
Wired: While people put up signs in their yards or bumper stickers on their cars to inform people of their views and potentially influence those around them, the ACLU’s Stanley says it’s intended for “human-scale visibility.” not to that of machines. “They may want to express themselves in their communities, to their neighbors, but they… Continue Reading
Google Flights now uses Amtrak data to show ‘trains to consider’ alongside flights
9to5Google: Google Flights has started showing “trains to consider” alongside flights in a new partnership with Amtrak. First announced earlier this year, Google Flights is offering train routes as an alternative to airlines. This functionality allows customers to find a more sustainable transportation option as well as perhaps finding something less expensive or closer to… Continue Reading
Vehicle Thefts Surge Nationwide in 2023
“Vehicle thefts continue to surge nationwide, challenging vehicle owners and law enforcement agencies hoping to curb this growing crime trend. A new report released by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the nation’s leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to identifying, investigating, preventing, and deterring insurance fraud and crime, shows another record-breaking year for vehicle thefts… Continue Reading
GM’s ‘crappy’ privacy statement is getting some changes after backlash and a lawsuit
Quartz: “…The Detroit automaker has been accused of failing to adequately disclose its relationship with a number of data brokers, including LexisNexis (RELX-0.33%) and Verisk according to a lawsuit filed last month by Texas officials. Data collected by GM vehicles, often through the company’s OnStar Smart Driver feature, was then shared by the brokers with… Continue Reading
Why car companies might finally have to care about pedestrian safety
Fast Company: “Earlier this month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) unveiled a significant change to car regulations that delighted safety advocates, annoyed automakers, and surprised pretty much everyone. In a first, NHTSA proposed forcing car companies to limit the risk of pedestrian head injuries in a collision. If the proposal becomes law, models… Continue Reading
