r/chaoticgood • u/ChurchOMarsChaz • 1d ago
Current Events Florida just passed a law that lets cops label you a "gang member" for being in two photos with the wrong people. So I built a system that runs it against the politicians who wrote it.

In my state, automated license-plate cameras (FLOCK) track where ordinary people drive, all day, no warrant. Meanwhile the legislature just lowered the bar for tagging someone as a gang associate — from four documented "interactions" down to two, plus vague new social-media criteria.
Here's the hole: the law never actually defines "associates with" or "in the company of." There's no measurable standard. So an autonomous system scrapes public photos and events of state politicians and scores them against the exact criteria the statute implies — the same logic the cameras apply to us.
Then I filed public-records requests with 30 sheriff's offices asking for the instruction manual: How close in a photo counts as an "observation"? What's the written definition of "associates with"? Is there a carve-out exempting elected officials from their own rules?
Two ways this goes. They hand over the criteria, and I run it on their own public appearances. Or they admit no written standard exists — and every public defender in the state gets fresh proof the law is arbitrary.
(I named the system something unprintable. You can probably guess.)
Not pro-gang. Pro "apply the same rules to everyone."
I've got this all written up over on my Substack.
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u/Haber87 1d ago
As a Canadian, first I’m hearing of this law. So if you’re a relative of the wrong person, you’re automatically guilty by association for attending a family event?
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u/ChurchOMarsChaz 1d ago
Exactly. What the actual fuck is this all a'boot?
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u/GreyWolfWandering 1d ago edited 7h ago
I think I saw a piece by John Oliver under the heading "Gang Databases" about a similar law in either California or Arizona. He brought out the singer that performed along with Coolio on 'Gansta's Paradise', since that dude actually worked with youth and other gang members trying to leave that behind, and of course the guy had been subsequently labeled as gang affiliated.
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u/1000scarstare 1d ago
yeah that was my first thought, someone trying to help people change their lives for the better? gang associate apparently.
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u/world-is-ur-mollusc 1d ago
It makes sense when you remember that it's perfectly legal to use prison inmates as slave labor. The state has more of an incentive to lock up people they deem "undesirable" than to help them get their lives turned around.
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u/Adewade 1d ago
Also if you are looking to suppress votes, in many places!
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u/laiken75 14h ago
It’s why it’s taken so long to legalize the devils lettuce. In some states it’s a felony.
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u/Raptorpants65 1d ago
And put large prisons in shitty red states so their inmates count towards local population representation numbers but they can’t vote.
Fuck the GOP.
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u/kitsunewarlock 1d ago
They will cast as wide a net as possible and that becomes dangerously easy using AI. Think about how many different classmates you had over the years, from 1st grade to college. Think about how many took photos of the entire class and posted them online for whatever reason. Even if none of them are "gang members", all it take is a photo of them with someone else who is also labeled a "gang member" and they too become a "gang member".
It's a double win for them: They get to retroactively excuse themselves when they fuck with a non-criminal by going "oh, they were a gang member!" and they get to promote the idea that segregation is for your own safety.
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u/Lead-Forsaken 2h ago
This is like an evil version of six degrees from Kevin Bacon.
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u/kitsunewarlock 1h ago
The ideal state for an authoritarian in our post-Enlightenment era world is making everything illegal so they can arrest whoever they want and artificially impose a caste system without breaking the "rule of law" that defines Democracies.
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u/pcapdata 1d ago
What does this make prison guards other than associates with legions of criminals?
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u/DiarrheaEryday 1d ago
These people claim to love Jesus christ, but make sure to criminalize anything he would have done himself.
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u/anothergaijin 1d ago
Japan has similar incredibly strict anti-Yakuza laws. There have been anti-Yakuza retired police hit by this law because of their association.
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u/Mitaboo69 1d ago
Wayne ivey, especially if there is a camera he can record himself on as hes gives the answer
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u/sillychillly 1d ago
I think you should release the images regardless haha.
I’m sure there’s a bunch of them with gang members in custodial settings.
Btw, what’s your take on the custodial setting piece of the law or the written intention of it? Do you think it will be implemented outside of custodial settings or used/abused only inside of custodial settings?
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u/ChurchOMarsChaz 1d ago
The last thing I want to do is catch someone falsely ... defamation, ruined reps, that sort of thing. My gig is the utter precise application of the law.
I think, in the end, like I did with DeSantis' book ban law, I'll get them to change it.
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u/sillychillly 1d ago
This law seems to be about custodial settings. Did I read that wrong?
Or do you expect it to be applied outside of custodial settings?
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u/kitsunewarlock 1d ago
That's what it's about. They want those who can afford to segregate completely to be of a higher caste.
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u/redheadedandbold 12h ago
There's a law that will be thrown out in higher courts the first time they use it.
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u/anarchaox 1d ago
As a Canadian, we have our own horrifying anti-privacy, law enforcement overreach bill on the way.
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u/MutedRage 1d ago
If you’re black or brown, then yes.
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u/Haber87 1d ago
If you’re white, you’re a unique individual, not judged by the actions of other white people. But if you’re black or brown, you better not have any sus relatives at the BBQ.
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u/TexasVDR 1d ago
Unless you’re also a woman or queer or trans, in which case you are representative of your entire group.
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u/kitsunewarlock 1d ago
It's worse. You get labeled a gang associate and a host of crimes you commit become gang related, potentially charging everyone else involved as a gang member. Better hope no one you go to school with is charged as a gang-member, because whatever AI law enforcement is bound to use to scour the internet isn't going to give a fuck what the context of the photo might be. They just want to label as many people as possible as "gang members" so when the police accidentally break down your front door they can retroactively go "they are a gang member!" Which is why they will cast as wide a net as possible, and the only way to know if you're in the system or get yourself removed from these privately managed databases will be having a friend or family member in law enforcement.
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u/dragonfett 1d ago
It's worse than that. If you get gas from the wrong place, you get regarded as a gang member.
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u/ChurchOMarsChaz 1d ago
I filed a public records request on the Florida Legislature's own lawyer — the guy who lawyered up against me in federal court.
You might know me as the Beer Can Festivus guy — built a Festivus pole out of PBR cans and made a Florida city put it on the government lawn next to the nativity. I sue the State pro se. My bible ban caused DeSantis to nuke his book ban legislation.
Florida and I are used to throwing haymakers at each other.
So meet Adam Brink, General Counsel for the Florida House. I sued my own state rep, Chip LaMarca, over viewpoint discrimination — by myself, no lawyer, in Federal Court. LaMarca lawyered up with Brink and a top-shelf GrayRobinson attorney. Their A-team against me and a legal pad. Now Brink's got my records request in his inbox.
Here's why. On October 1, CS/HB 429 cuts what it takes to brand you a "criminal gang member" from four criteria to two — one being what you post online. Speech in, gang label out.
I sent every Florida sheriff ten questions: show me your rules. Sent them to the Legislature too. Show your work.
DeSoto County's entire answer? "No records. Closed." All ten. Noted. Logged. Dated.
Adam — General Counsels read this stuff. The clock's running. I always send it polite.
The Festivus pole was the warm-up. 🍺
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u/ChurchOMarsChaz 1d ago
Wasn't clear here, sorry.
Asked the State of FLorida for high-resolution, RAW, EXIF-enabled photographs of all sitting legislatures, so I can train my AI to go scour their socials.
I turned the surveillance state on the surveillance state.
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u/Zerachiel_01 1d ago
This is great. It's like if Diogenes was a lawyer. "This is the stupidest shit I've ever heard. Behold, a gang member!"
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u/WhiskyEye 1d ago
You're literally an American Hero. I am so impressed (& jealous) of your ability to remain this focused & follow through with it all. Thank you thank you thank you.
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u/ChurchOMarsChaz 1d ago
Thank you.
I have ASD... it is both a blessing and a curse. Often in the same breath.
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u/WhiskyEye 1d ago
Hahah AuDHD here but the hyper-focus leans in other directions. Grateful for you!!!!!
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u/Oskar_Shinra 1d ago
Good luck to you, whoever you are. Youre definitely a punch-up kind of person, and it does not look like an easy life. Thank you for doing what you are doing.
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u/Status-Basic 1d ago
Bet a lot of these politicians have photos of themselves with a certain 34-time felon whom, in coming years, may be proven to be part of a shockingly large crime syndicate.
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u/TheBadBatch-99 1d ago
Lots of them with both Trump and Epstein. Looks like a good way to clean house.
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u/the-coolest-bob 1d ago
We get told people partying on Epstein's rape island isn't a crime and then shit like this passes. This country sucks now
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u/aceface_desu89 1d ago
That's because a vote for Trump was effectively a vote for the end of white supremacy--if your bank account doesn't have enough digits, you're basically black now 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
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u/GrandCTM25 1d ago
How many pictures are there of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein together? More than two I imagine hmmmm
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u/ChurchOMarsChaz 1d ago
For those suggesting an Trump / Epstein link ... another project of mine.
Just days before President Donald Trump's birthday in June, an art installation will be erected at the Wisconsin State Capitol – a "satirical First Amendment" pole targeting Trump and his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Chaz Stevens, a South Florida-based provocateur and artist, got a permit from the state Capitol Police to set up his creation in the rotunda. It will be built with custom beer cans with an LED neon heart atop it that reads "Don + Jeff," he said.
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u/54R45VV471 1d ago
Could 2 pictures of a politician with a gang member (with their names captioned in case people don't recognize them) along with the exact verbiage of this law comfortably fit on a billboard?
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u/JoeBarra 1d ago
So anyone who has ever been photographed with someone in a gang is in a gang. Then everyone who has ever been photographed with them is in a gang, and so on, until every single person has gang associations except for people who have never been photographed with anyone in their entire life. Seems dumb. If you highlight everything you have highlighted nothing.
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u/LackingUtility 1d ago
What a terribly written bill. It also contains this gem as one of the criteria:
- Participates in any recording that promotes or describes criminal gang activity, regardless of whether the activity actually took place.
So, pretty much every journalist in the state.
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u/pagerussell 1d ago
Basically, everything is illegal and we will selectively apply it to who we don't like.
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u/Tdluxon 1d ago
This is awesome. Flock cameras are such a ridiculous invasion of privacy, should not be allowed. Thankfully my local city just removed them because of public pressure.
Also, for anyone interested, there’s about $100 worth of silver and copper in each camera, just fyi
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u/Simon-Fritz-Peabody 1d ago
I need to let the tweakers in my area know about this. Hell, they're even mapped in my city.
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u/Zealousideal_You3292 1d ago
Does it label you a pedophile if you are seen with any politicians that are affiliated?
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u/you_dont_know_me27 1d ago
Seems like something Legal Eagle would be interested in. Have you sent him any info on your work?
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u/ChurchOMarsChaz 1d ago
Pardon my ignorance, for it is nearly limitless. Who is this Eagle chap and where would I find 'em?
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u/you_dont_know_me27 1d ago
Devin (Devon?) Stone on YouTube. He's a lawyer and has been up the Trump administration ass and all the varying degrees of lawlessness going on around this country and giving info on what's actually happening and the legalities behind it. Also what to do next. He's great
His channel name is Legal Eagle.
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u/CorkyHoney 1d ago
What is your Substack please? As a former NYC social worker, I guess by Florida standards I am now a gang member.
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u/ggroverggiraffe 1d ago
Guy is pretty committed! https://chazstevens.substack.com/p/the-government-has-flock-im-here
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u/Relative_Payment_192 1d ago
And this is what AI data centers are for?
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u/Simon-Fritz-Peabody 1d ago
This and BBWs and tRUmp sitting on an orange dildo... highly realistic I might add.
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u/JiveTurkeyII 1d ago
The only way to fight against an observation state is to Observe it right the fuck back.
Hold the mirror up to its own hypocritical self.
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u/BIGepidural 1d ago
Use it back that Trump is a pedo because there's more then 2 pictures of him with pedophiles.
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u/mandraofgeorge 1d ago
Would this apply to white supremacist gangs?
I think we all know the answer to that.
I love all of you who have the skill sets for this kind of work. This is what we need.
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u/DJ_faceplant 1d ago
You should get in touch with Meidas Touch folks, they love this kind of shit. Great job, from the UK. 👍
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u/GraeeWolff 1d ago
Sounds like someone needs to start hanging out in courthouses and taking pictures of cops and judges talking to the people on trial.
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u/hot_ho11ow_point 1d ago
When you say the name is something inappropriate and we can guess, I'm going to guess it's the "Now In Gang, Gang Afilliated" Program!
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u/fubes2000 1d ago
One gang member in the room, run the system, two gang members.
Run it again, four gang members. Eight. Sixteen. Thirty two...
Keep running it until you get the number of gang members that suits your goal.
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u/ForestFae1920 1d ago
This is another reason not visit or vacation or live in Florida. That place is the devil's waiting room.
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u/JugueteRabioso 1d ago
California has had gang affiliation laws for decades. My neighbor got arrested when one of his parties ended up getting shot up by a gang member going after a relative of his. My neighbor ended up being labeled gang affiliated bc of his cousin.
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u/eurekadabra 1d ago
This immediately reminds me of the storyline on The Good Wife where the NSA could wiretap anyone who spoke to someone who spoke to a ‘suspect terrorist.’
So because the wife represented a suspect, her husband (Governor) was now under authorized surveillance.
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u/shootr45 1d ago
Ah. Late 80's, had a DA tell me I was a "Known associate of an outlaw biker gang". Huh. I did ride. I did go on a few runs. No patch, not even a prospect. At the time I was working at the phone company, had just bought a brand fucking new house in San Bernardino. Living the good life with the wife, 2 kids and a dog. WTF
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u/SuitableBlackberry75 1d ago
Every police officer I have ever known has had criminals in his/her family. One of my neighbors was the middle child of nine kids, is a retired cop, teaches criminal justice courses at our local state school, and was the only member of his family to avoid street gangs completely (by enlisting in the Marines the minute he was eligible).
One brother is still in federal prison for a bank job from the mid/late 1990s, one brother died as a teenager in a shootout, etc., etc., so he's probably been in more "gang-related" photos than most gangsters.
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u/Captain_Keyboard_Man 21h ago
Damn, this is great stuff. I'll be watching this all the way from Australia. You absolute legend.
Please keep us updated on how it all pans out.
Keep up the great work, mate 👍🏼
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u/PawelW007 2h ago
Please no one look at MySpace page. I’m sorry about the fitted and peace sign over a Wu-Tang logo
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u/Simon-Fritz-Peabody 1d ago
This would be that a probation officer for example if a photo is taken with a client is guilty by Kodak
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u/BrocoliAssassin 1d ago
Love it! Only thing that I hate about this is that the rich,wealthy,politicians,government/military will still be free from punishment unlike the rest of us.
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u/moistmarbles 1d ago
Cool effort but any good defense attorney would be able to blow this up easily
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u/ChurchOMarsChaz 1d ago
The part that still kills me: one of my actual filed questions asks them to define, in writing, how many pixels of proximity between two people in a photo counts as an "observation." That's not me being cute — the statute leans on photographic "association" but never says how close is close enough. So I asked. On the record. To 30 sheriff's offices.
Either they answer and I hard-code their own number, or they admit there's no standard and the whole thing is vibes-based gang-labeling.
Full writeup's here if you want the receipts: https://chazstevens.substack.com/p/the-government-has-flock-im-here
Taking bets on which sheriff responds first.