An unidentified person cut down two Flock cameras in suburban Houston, Texas on Friday. That’s not shocking in itself, given the intense backlash nationwide against the surveillance devices. But the vandal did do something a little unique this time. They left a message behind suggesting why they did it. Whoever cut the Flock cameras down wants the Epstein files to be released.
Surveillance footage captured a hooded figure in Cypress, Texas, cutting down one Flock camera in the early morning hours of Friday, according to local news outlet ABC 13. A second Flock camera in the area was also cut down.
The cameras run on solar panels, which appear to have been vandalized with white spray paint and a stencil, judging by the video captured by ABC 13. They read: “Release the Epstein Files.”
It’s unclear whether the vandal believes there’s a direct link between Flock and the fact that the Department of Justice has refused to release all government-held files on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. President Donald Trump, who was Epstein’s “best friend” for about 15 years before they had some kind of falling out in the 2000s, has generally supported Flock cameras.
The presence of Flock cameras in communities across the country has led to debates about how much privacy Americans are willing to give up in the 2020s. Dozens of police officers have been caught abusing Flock cameras to stalk partners, ex-girlfriends, and other private citizens, according to the Washington Post.
A sheriff’s “deputy of the year” in central Ohio was caught just last week using the Flock system “in a manner that was inconsistent with the deputy’s authorized duties and responsibilities.” But those are just the cases that have become public.
The Flock debate has led to a fair amount of vigilantism across the U.S., with stories nearly every week about average people chopping down or otherwise defacing the cameras. Many municipalities have cancelled contracts with Flock, though the company doesn’t always take them down after they do.
ABC 13 spoke with one resident of Cypress who appeared to like the fact that his community is filled with Flock cameras. Jeff Sciba told the news outlet he used to feel safe, but with the Flock cameras cut down, he wasn’t so sure.
“Think about it. If it’s your kid or grandkid or your wife, someone kidnaps them or there’s a murder, we have a way to trace people,” said Sciba.
He also seemed confused about why anyone would invoke Jeffrey Epstein’s name while vandalizing the cameras.
“We are more worried about the affordability situation than we are the Epstein files,” Sciba told ABC 13. “None of us even care about it. So why are you taking it out on us because you don’t like what people are doing in our government?”
Flock Safety didn’t respond to questions emailed Tuesday. Gizmodo will update this article if we hear back.
