At San Diego City Council’s latest budget meeting, Darth Vader made an unusual case for renewing the city’s contract with surveillance company Flock Safety. The company’s partnership with the San Diego Police Department has recently faced increased scrutiny as more cases emerge involving the alleged misuse of Flock’s license plate reader technology. A WIRED review of the code behind a new artificial intelligence tool already used by some police departments also suggests that Flock’s technology may extend beyond monitoring vehicle license plates.
“The Emperor is a fan of the Flock, and we must continue to utilize Flock’s technology so that we can track and monitor the rebel bastards as they move from playground to playground, playground to pool, pool to gymnasium.”
A video recording of the appearance went viral, reaching millions of viewers on TikTok and Instagram.
The person behind the stunt is Anthony Ralphs, a San Diego-based DJ, event producer, and agricultural consultant who has spent much of the past year opposing the city’s support for Flock Safety cameras used by San Diego police.
Ralphs initially considered concealing his identity with a Darth Vader mask, using Hasbro’s 2004 model. As the video gained momentum, however, he said he decided to embrace the character and use the stunt to bring attention to Flock cameras, police surveillance, and privacy concerns.
WIRED spoke with Ralphs about the role of art in advocacy, costume creation, and civic engagement.
This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Vittoria Elliott: How did this begin? Was it your first San Diego City Council meeting?
Anthony Ralphs: No. I first attended a City Council meeting last summer or fall. But the Flock camera issue became the most important council matter I had encountered and ultimately led me to participate regularly in local government. At the December 9 City Council meeting, my third or fourth meeting, officials were voting on whether to continue using Flock Safety technology.
At the time, council members did not fully understand what the technology could do. Police described Flock as a tool that would increase public safety and enforcement capabilities. More than 300 people attended the vote, filling the room, and I believe about 95 percent of those who spoke opposed renewing the Flock contract. The council approved it anyway. It was discouraging, but it also motivated me to keep attending meetings and advocating for greater oversight.
I attended the next City Council meeting, when only about five people were in the chambers. Just weeks earlier, nearly 300 people had attended. That contrast was eye-opening. We realized that not everyone can be present at every meeting, which made consistent advocacy even more important. I decided to take time off from school to focus on the issue.
Why did this issue feel so urgent?
San Diego faces a $120 million budget deficit. The city has cut some arts programs while offering Flock Safety $2.2 million for its contract, even though residents in some of the most heavily policed communities have said they do not want the technology. There is also the case of Hugo Parra, a local San Diegan who was reportedly wrongfully jailed for 30 days after a Flock camera incorrectly connected him to a crime. [Flock did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this matter.]
Source: www.wired.com