San Diego, California – A man dressed as the iconic Star Wars villain Darth Vader recently crashed a San Diego city council hearing to share his support for the controversial Flock cameras and their extensive surveillance powers.
During a Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee meeting on Wednesday, the Sith Lord told the council that Flock cameras are exactly “what the emperor needs.”
He said that the technology can be used to discover the location of a “hidden base on Hoth” and “find Luke Skywalker as he traverses the universe in his X-Wing” – plus help Vader “stalk my ex-girlfriend.”
“The Emperor is a fan of Flock, and we must continue utilizing Flock technologies so that we can follow and surveil the Rebel scum as they move from playground to playground, from playground to pool, from pool to gymnasium,” the man said, exhibiting Vader’s signature labored breathing.
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“We all know that the Flock cameras are not only following the license plate readers… they are following children in parks and gymnasiums, and we need this,” he added.
The stunt came as San Diego officials face heavy scrutiny after signing a one-year deal with Flock Nova for local police to use their mass surveillance system, which includes automated license plate readers, video cameras, and audio-detection products.
According to a 2025 annual surveillance report, the San Diego Police Department claimed there have been approximately 500 plate cameras installed across the city.
Vader also suggested that the council should use “doublespeak” to portray the police as humanitarian, and use “Jedi mind tricks” to convince the public to support surveillance technology “that imprisons them.”
