Darth Vader costume sparks viral backlash against San Diego surveillance contract
A satirical performance at a San Diego City Council meeting has drawn global attention to the city’s renewal of its contract with AI surveillance firm Flock Safety.
Anthony Ralphs, a San Diego-based DJ and event producer, donned a 2004 Hasbro Darth Vader helmet to attend a recent City Council budget meeting. The stunt was designed to satirically praise the council’s decision to renew its contract with surveillance company Flock Safety, a move that has drawn significant local opposition. The video of Ralphs quoting the character in support of the technology has since gone viral on TikTok and Instagram, reaching millions of viewers.
Ralphs, who also works as an agriculture consultant, described the performance as a last resort after months of traditional advocacy failed to sway the council. He revealed his identity behind the mask to take ownership of the stunt, noting that the incident has shifted the local narrative from viewing Flock as a necessary evil to questioning whether a satirical endorsement should be sufficient justification for the technology.
The San Diego City Council voted to renew the $2.2 million contract on 9 December, despite over 300 attendees, 95 per cent of whom opposed the technology. The decision was made while the city faced a $120 million deficit and had cut several arts programmes. Ralphs highlighted this contrast, arguing that the allocation of funds for Flock occurred even as communities most heavily policed expressed their dissatisfaction.
Public frustration with Flock Safety has been fuelled by recent reports of police officers abusing the company’s tools. A review by WIRED of code for a new AI tool suggested the technology monitors more than just licence plates. Additionally, local resident Hugo Parra was falsely imprisoned for 30 days due to an erroneous tag by Flock cameras. Parra and a friend are currently suing the city for $1.5 million, a sum that could add significantly to the cost of the contract if settled.
Ralphs, who studied theatre and labour studies and interned for the American Federation of Teachers, used the stunt to highlight the lack of self-awareness among council members. He rewatched the original Star Wars films to perfect his gesticulations and used the helmet’s built-in voice changer, though he also replicated the character’s voice himself. The performance was timed to coincide with a committee meeting where the ACLU was present, a moment Ralphs identified as significant for the campaign.
The incident has prompted a global conversation about the necessity of such surveillance tools. Ralphs aims to make civic engagement more engaging, suggesting that council meetings can be places where residents bring their own art and moral fortitude. He noted that some people did not know what Flock was a week ago, indicating the stunt’s success in reframing the debate around luxury surveillance and digital oversight.
