the covert cameras installed above roadways, COWs are visible. These swiftly proliferating surveillance devices are becoming increasingly prevalent across the United States, outfitted with cutting-edge video and audio monitoring and deterrent technologies.
COWs are produced by a range of security and surveillance technology firms, including the contentious Flock Safety and the Texas-based ECAM, and subsequently leased to various local and state law enforcement agencies or private security firms. These cameras have emerged as the preferred crime deterrent for police departments in multiple U.S. States due to their capacity to observe and listen to everything within their range.
With the addition of artificial intelligence capabilities, they serve as a straightforward set-and-forget solution that enables officers to effectively and thoroughly oversee a specific area utilizing a blend of multifunction cameras and two-way audio functionality. The COWs’ tall poles and somewhat disconcerting blinking lights have earned them the unwelcome moniker of “scarecrows,” prompting security contractors to increase production to satisfy police demand.