Mystery Flock cameras discovered in Florida without permits, leaving locals feel very unsafe

Eleven mystery Flock cameras were uncovered in a Florida county without permits or publicly known owners — raising concerns over who or what is watching from above, according to a report.The unnerving discovery was made in St.Lucie County after the county opted to remove the high-tech, cotroversial Flock surveillance cameras used to monitor traffic and track drivers, the Washington Post reported.County officials initially thought only 52 cameras were operating in their area, but a sweep uncovered 14 unpermitted devices in operation.

The county sheriff’s office claimed three as their own, leaving 11 rogue cameras unaccounted for — leaving locals in the dark about who actually controls the sensitive data being collected.“I’m not happy about it unless I know who it is,” 70-year-old resident Todd Richter told the outlet, adding “and I don’t.”It was not immediately clear why the sheriff’s office did not request permits for the cameras. Representatives of the county told the Washington Post that they placed notices on the unidentified units and gave owners from Oct.16 to Oct.

20 to remove them, depending on when the notice was posted.If no one claims the cameras, county workers plan to wrap plastic bags over their lenses.A Flock spokesperson told WaPo that while they often handle permits “where required, but permitting requirements vary by jurisdiction and are not necessary in every location.”Flock said it reached out to St.Lucie County officials and is “happy to work with them directly to review the cameras in question and address any discrepancies,” the company added in an email.County officials haven’t said whether they’ll take Flock up on the offer.Ty Grant, 28, lives a few hundred feet from a Flock camera in Fort Pierce.

When the newspaper informed Grant that it is not known who installed the camera, he became frightened.“That makes me feel very unsafe,” Grant said.Florida Gov.Ron DeSantis directed the Florida Department of Tr...