The proliferation of automated license plate recognition (ALPR) and facial recognition cameras, often deployed by companies like Flock Safety, has created an increasingly pervasive surveillance network. In response, the Flock You project offers a technical countermeasure: a DIY device built around the ESP32 microcontroller designed to detect these systems in real-time, alerting individuals to their presence.

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The ESP32-based Flock You device scans for surveillance camera signatures. (Image Source: Hackaday)

How does it work? The device capitalizes on the wireless emissions typical of commercial ALPR cameras:

  1. Signature Detection: It scans for specific Wi-Fi probe requests, beacon frames, and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) advertisements emitted by target cameras.
  2. Pattern Matching: Using MAC address filtering and pattern recognition techniques (often derived from the open-source DeFlock research project), it distinguishes surveillance hardware from other wireless devices.
  3. User Alert: Upon detecting a camera signature, the device triggers a local buzzer, providing immediate feedback to the user.

The project can be implemented using the specialized Oui-Spy hardware from Colonel Panic or a readily available Xiao ESP32 S3 development board, making it accessible to the maker and security research communities.

This local detection capability feeds into a larger, crowdsourced effort: deflock.me. This global map aggregates verified locations of ALPR cameras, relying on submissions from individuals using tools like Flock You.

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The deflock.me project maps ALPR camera locations globally. (Image Source: Hackaday)

The rise of projects like Flock You and deflock.me underscores a growing public awareness and technical response to the rapid, often opaque, deployment of automated surveillance. While proponents argue ALPR aids law enforcement in recovering stolen vehicles or solving crimes, privacy advocates raise significant concerns about the mass collection of location data, potential for misuse, and lack of oversight. Flock You provides a tangible, open-source tool for individuals to audit and document this infrastructure in their own communities, shifting some power back through technical awareness. It represents a fascinating intersection of embedded systems hacking, wireless protocol analysis, and digital rights activism – enabling people to see the systems that are constantly watching them.