New documents and court records obtained by EFF show that Texas deputies queried Flock Safety's surveillance data in an abortion investigation, contradicting the narrative promoted by the company and the Johnson County Sheriff that she was “being searched for as a missing person,” and that “it was about her safety.” The new information shows that deputies had initiated a "death investigation" of a "non-viable fetus," collected evidence of a woman’s self-managed abortion, and consulted prosecutors about possibly charging her.
  • Telorand@reddthat.comEnglish
    112·
    7 days ago

    That sheriff has since been arrested and indicted on felony counts in an unrelated sexual harassment and whistleblower retaliation case. He has also been charged with aggravated perjury for allegedly lying to a grand jury. EFF filed public records requests with Johnson County to obtain a more definitive account of events.

    At least his side of the story has a happy ending.

    The rest of the story is bonkers, though. The headline could not possibly do it justice. This is one you need to sit down and read with a cup of tea.

    • shalafi@lemmy.worldEnglish
      10·
      6 days ago

      Yep. This wasn’t systemic abuse, it was one guy. But it illustrates the possibilities.

  • reddig33@lemmy.worldEnglish
    49·
    7 days ago

    Sounds like a great lawsuit. Also a great way for Flock to lose their contracts with large blue cities in Texas (and elsewhere).

      • Aljernon@lemmy.todayEnglish
        4·
        5 days ago

        We need an anti-flock campaign. A city government didn’t give them permission to put their cameras up and when they did it anyway, the city covered them in garbage bags before they could get removed.

    • gian @lemmy.grys.itEnglish
      11·
      6 days ago

      Also a great way for Flock to lose their contracts with large blue cities in Texas (and elsewhere).

      This would only lead to the emergence of another Flock, with the same problems.

      What you should really do is abolish that stupid and retrograde law.

  • Uriel238 [all pronouns]@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    15·
    6 days ago

    Like pleading with Hector not to fight Achilles, Cassandra has been warning about ALPRs for over a decade now, possibly two, that they were too intimate a search to allow law enforcement to use them without narrowly-defined warrants.

    As with the Greek wooden horse Cassandra shouted was going to burn Troy to the ground, only too late we are seeing how such power can be used.

    No one listens to Cassandra.