Flock cameras haven't improved Atlanta's crime clearance rates
An analysis of FBI data shows that despite Atlanta's network of over 28,000 integrated cameras and thousands of Flock license plate readers, clearance rates for major crimes like homicide, robbery, and motor vehicle theft have not improved since 2021. In fact, homicide clearances dropped from 53.4% to 48% between 2021 and 2025. The article also highlights that human trafficking cases remain largely unsolved, and questions the effectiveness of surveillance technology touted by officials.
If our city is going to be spending tens of millions of dollars a year on surveillance technology, the least we can do is investigate whether this technology is even effective at solving cases.
- pton_xd
Who thinks a surveillance state is about reducing crime? It's about control!
- fraserphysics
Sort of related. Across the street from my cousin's house in Portland, OR, a car ran over the curb and into landscape features that knocked off the car's bumper and license plate. The perpetrator then backed up and drove away. My cousin's doorbell camera caught it all. Police are not interested, saying no one can prove who was driving.
Who needs a license plate reader when you can get a license plate?
- ProllyInfamous
I spent half my day today in Atlanta's inner loop... soooo many Nissans just don't even have license plates, anymore (and other cars, too; but all other OEMs summed == Nissans).
It makes me want to purchase a beat-up silver Nissan (without plates also) and then I can blend in through obscurity?
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My own ATL adventure today involved zero license plate scans, but obviously the machines are doing way more than just LPR (I have no illusions that my activities aren't still traced, even without a legible tag).
- OCTAGRAM
That loosely resembles research about economic impact of adopting PC. Which was not as great as could be imagined. Increased competition sets prices lower, increased data flows are not compatible with manual labour. Like in running faster in "Through the looking glass"
- nothercastle
Flock is about surveillance for profit sometimes that also has positive results but often the costs are too high