EyesOffCR.org - Informing Cedar Rapids

This report provides a detailed technical dissection of the Flock Falcon Flex Camera, focusing on its hardware architecture, customized Android software, and diverse operational boot modes.

It has been quiet on our end, but only because we've been busy behind the scenes: filing records requests, coordinating with city officials, and expanding our surveillance transparency efforts beyond Cedar Rapids.

Some good news this week: after weeks of pressure, the Cedar Rapids Police Department has released the locations of Flock Safety cameras deployed across the city. This is a meaningful step toward transparency. A few months ago, none of this information was available to the public.

Flock Safety wants you to believe they're helping your neighborhood fight crime. In reality, they've built a national surveillance grid with direct ties to the same government contractors, intelligence circles, and venture firms that feed the war machine. And cities across the U.S., including Cedar Rapids and Storm Lake, are paying for it with public funds.

Hendrik van Pelt grew up in the Netherlands hearing stories from his grandparents about life under Nazi occupation. Years later, as an immigrant to Iowa, he noticed strange black cameras popping up along roads statewide. For Hendrik, the memories rushed back, compelling him to challenge Iowa's growing surveillance network.

In June 2024, the Cedar Rapids City Council approved a $499,250 contract with Flock Safety to install Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras—adding our city to a national network of license plate surveillance. This article explores how these cameras raise serious privacy concerns, the technical vulnerabilities of ALPR systems, and possible countermeasures.