Surveillance cameras livestreamed for the internet to see - marketplace-tech Recap

Podcast: marketplace-tech

Published: 2026-01-08

Duration: 6 minutes

Guests: Benn Jordan

Summary

Benn Jordan discovered that Flock Safety's AI surveillance cameras were broadcasting footage live on the internet, posing significant privacy risks.

What Happened

Technologist Benn Jordan uncovered a serious privacy issue with Flock Safety's AI surveillance cameras, which were streaming live video feeds on the internet without password protection. Using Shodan, a search engine for internet-connected devices, Jordan found over 60 cameras that were accessible to anyone online. This discovery highlights the vulnerability of surveillance systems and the potential misuse of the footage they capture.

Jordan explained how these cameras, intended to deter crime, can pan, tilt, and zoom to track human faces and read license plates. The lack of security measures allowed him to access archived footage, which could potentially be used to invade people's privacy by identifying individuals and tracking their movements.

The episode also covered the invasiveness of these cameras, exemplified by a camera focused on a playground, raising concerns about the safety and privacy of children. Jordan emphasized how such surveillance could alter people's behavior, infringing on their freedom and liberty.

In one instance, Jordan recounted observing a man rollerblading and watching videos on his phone, noting how detailed the footage was, even to the point of seeing what the man was watching. This level of detail underscores the potential for misuse, as anyone accessing the feed could easily discern sensitive information.

Flock Safety responded to Jordan's findings, claiming the issue was a limited misconfiguration affecting a small number of devices, which has since been addressed. However, the incident raises broader questions about the security and ethical implications of widespread surveillance.

The conversation between Jordan and host Meghan McCarty Carino highlighted the tension between technological advancements in crime prevention and the erosion of civil liberties. The episode serves as a cautionary tale about the trade-offs society faces as surveillance technology becomes more pervasive.

Key Insights

• Over 60 Flock Safety AI surveillance cameras were found streaming live video feeds on the internet without password protection, accessible to anyone using Shodan, a search engine for internet-connected devices.
• These AI cameras are capable of panning, tilting, and zooming to track human faces and read license plates, with archived footage accessible due to insufficient security measures.
• One camera was focused on a playground, raising significant concerns about the privacy and safety of children under surveillance.
• Flock Safety attributed the issue to a limited misconfiguration affecting a small number of devices, which has been addressed, but the incident raises broader questions about surveillance security and ethics.