Flock camera critic speaks at council meeting in Darth Vader suit

A man dressed as Darth Vader used satire to make his point against Flock cameras at a San Diego City Council meeting on Wednesday.

He was called to the podium as Darth Vader, and wore the classic Star Wars character’s all-black garb, including cape and helmet. Speaking satirically, the man said the surveillance cameras were necessary for what he described as the Emperor’s plans, allowing the Emperor to track down “rebel scum.” The Emperor is a key villain in the Star Wars series known for using Machiavellian techniques to seize power and assume control of a ruthless dictatorship. The Emperor was a fan of Flock, the advocate insisted, because it let him find the rebels’ base on Hoth and locate Luke Skywalker and his X-wing. The cameras were capable of these feats because they did far more than just read license plates: They also tracked children through playgrounds and other public spaces, he said.

He went on to question how the people of San Diego could trust the City Council when that same council continued to vote for surveillance technology that, in his words, imprisoned the people, adding that council member Jennifer Campbell must work on what he described as her “Jedi mind tricks.”

The costumed resident was just one example of several citizens across the country who have recently lodged protests against the controversial Flock cameras. Proponents of the cameras, including many law enforcement agencies, have argued that the license plate readers provide vital information that aids in solving crimes, recovering stolen vehicles, and finding missing people.

Dig deeper: Click here to read my previous Sift about the recent changes to Flock’s privacy guidelines, and Americans’ continued protest against the cameras.