Rather than get rid of ALPR cameras entirely, many cities and towns are switching to Axon, whose cameras can be mounted to an existing streetlamp, helping them blend into their surroundings.
For those who read the headline and not the article.
The big difference between Flock and Axon is the scope of the network. Flock can operate on a national scale. Axon doesn’t have that capability. It only works at a local jurisdiction level.
I wonder if this is a feature gap that accidentally turned into a differentiator for Axon. Flock has bragged about Axon not having a national network. Now the tables are turning.
The thing with network-connected components is that who they can talk to and what data they can correlate is almost entirely a function of software and configuration. The Axon cameras today could be part of a national network tomorrow if the company were so inclined.
This is a company. If that company believes it can make more money by pushing an invasive, legal, software update, they’re very likely to do that. The fact that they’re touting the fact that they don’t do that is not an ethical stance, it’s a marketing strategy.
My guess is that they simply didn’t have their shit together to build out a national network, and product development incompetence accidentally created a desirable “feature.”
Axon absolutely has their shit together, they’re just better at manipulating the public than Flock. They managed to invent an entire fake medical condition that is accepted by the courts and public as real, just to avoid consequences from their defective products and false advertising. Look up “excited delirium”.
Yeah, Flock’s PR has been pretty bad. I don’t know who is leading their media strategy there, but they’re clearly doing some rookie stuff like calling opponents terrorists and whatnot.
Even so, there’s going to be just as little restraint and oversight in this product as the last one. Scope wasn’t the issue, it’s that the companies are collecting more data than they say they are and police are using them to find crime, not just investigate crime.
For those who read the headline and not the article.
The big difference between Flock and Axon is the scope of the network. Flock can operate on a national scale. Axon doesn’t have that capability. It only works at a local jurisdiction level.
I wonder if this is a feature gap that accidentally turned into a differentiator for Axon. Flock has bragged about Axon not having a national network. Now the tables are turning.
The thing with network-connected components is that who they can talk to and what data they can correlate is almost entirely a function of software and configuration. The Axon cameras today could be part of a national network tomorrow if the company were so inclined.
This is a company. If that company believes it can make more money by pushing an invasive, legal, software update, they’re very likely to do that. The fact that they’re touting the fact that they don’t do that is not an ethical stance, it’s a marketing strategy.
Oh, it’s 100% a marketing strategy now.
My guess is that they simply didn’t have their shit together to build out a national network, and product development incompetence accidentally created a desirable “feature.”
Axon absolutely has their shit together, they’re just better at manipulating the public than Flock. They managed to invent an entire fake medical condition that is accepted by the courts and public as real, just to avoid consequences from their defective products and false advertising. Look up “excited delirium”.
Yeah, Flock’s PR has been pretty bad. I don’t know who is leading their media strategy there, but they’re clearly doing some rookie stuff like calling opponents terrorists and whatnot.
Even so, there’s going to be just as little restraint and oversight in this product as the last one. Scope wasn’t the issue, it’s that the companies are collecting more data than they say they are and police are using them to find crime, not just investigate crime.
“Everyone should use System X! It’s preferable because not many people use it!”
:-)