AI + camera + safety excuse = police state
The author argues that a partnership between Flock Safety, a maker of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) for law enforcement, and Nexar, an AI-powered dashcam company, is creating an ‘in-car Stasi.’ This collaboration aims to integrate privately-owned dashcams into the state’s surveillance network, exponentially increasing its reach. This system can build a massive database of citizens’ movements in real-time, regardless of any wrongdoing, akin to pre-emptively issuing ankle bracelets to the entire population. The author contends that this technology will inevitably be used to automatically issue fines for minor infractions like speeding or rolling stops, and that insurance companies will leverage the data to increase rates. The core argument is that the mere existence of such a powerful surveillance tool guarantees its eventual abuse by authoritarian actors, transforming society into a state of constant, inescapable monitoring.