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Darth Vader Mocks San Diego Council Over Flock Surveillance Cameras
A man dressed as Darth Vader delivered a sarcastic speech at a San Diego City Council meeting, mocking the city's use of Flock license plate readers and highlighting growing privacy concerns.
By Charlotte Redford · 2 min read
A man dressed as Darth Vader appeared before San Diego city officials to mock the city’s use of Flock Safety cameras, delivering a sarcastic speech that targeted surveillance, policing, homelessness, and government spending. The unidentified speaker, who remained in character throughout, addressed the Public Safety Committee during public comment, pretending to endorse the automated license plate readers on behalf of the Empire.
“The Emperor is a fan of Flock,” he announced, before explaining that the technology could help “follow and surveil the Rebel scum” as they travelled between playgrounds, pools, and gymnasiums. The performance, captured on YouTube, drew stifled laughter from some attendees. Vader joked that the cameras could help him stalk an ex-girlfriend, then broadened his satirical attack to police funding, homelessness policies, public services, and incarceration. He concluded with Star Wars references, claiming the cameras could locate the Rebels’ secret base on Hoth and track Luke Skywalker in his X-wing, calling the technology a “necessary, necessary force.”
Behind the comedy lies a serious debate over Flock’s network of cameras, which photograph vehicles and record license plates, giving police a searchable database. Supporters argue the system helps locate missing people, recover stolen cars, and identify suspects. Critics, however, point to privacy concerns and documented errors. The Guardian reported that a San Diego man spent a month in jail after a Flock reader incorrectly linked him to an attempted violent carjacking. According to DeFlock, a group tracking opposition, roughly 100 municipalities had deactivated, cancelled, or rejected Flock contracts by August 2026.
San Diego voted in December to keep using the system, and the cameras remain operational. Whether Vader persuaded anyone is unclear, but his protest was certainly more memorable than a typical three-minute PowerPoint presentation.
