Darth Vader and the Empire in Star Wars are analogs for many things, most of them pertaining to fascism. So his surprise “appearance” at a California City Council meeting has caused a disturbance in the Force. A Darth Vader impersonator delivered one of the most bizarre moments of a San Diego City Council meeting this week when he appeared at the podium to offer a tongue-in-cheek defense of the city’s controversial Flock surveillance cameras.
The incident occurred on August 19, during a Public Safety Committee meeting in San Diego. Wearing the full black costume and breathing heavily into the microphone, a man dressed as Vader was formally introduced as “Darth Vader.” In the clip, the man can be heard and seen saying, “The Emperor is a fan of Flock,” Vader told council members, referring to the fictional Galactic Empire’s ruler, Emperor Palpatine.
He then praised the license-plate reader technology for its ability to track the fictional “Rebel scum” around the city. “We must continue utilizing Flock technologies so that we can follow and surveil the Rebel scum,” he added, sarcastically describing how the cameras could track people, often in places children frequent, from playgrounds to pools and gyms.
Then came his most outrageous punchline. “I need this so I can stalk my ex-girlfriend,” Vader said. The joke was part of a broader criticism of Flock cameras and the potential dangers of expansive surveillance. The cosplayer questioned how residents could continue trusting elected officials who support technology capable of tracking people’s movements.
Not as bad as the Death Star, not yet
The cosplayer also mocked the idea that public money should prioritize surveillance, declaring that San Diego did not need parks, libraries, daycare centers, or homeless shelters, only funding for “our Storm Troopers.” The performance came as Flock Safety faces growing scrutiny over privacy concerns. San Diego has about 500 Flock cameras mounted on streetlights, with the police department saying the system recorded license plates, vehicle descriptions, locations, dates, and times.
Critics have raised concerns about potential misuse. A Washington Post investigation identified dozens of cases in which law enforcement personnel were accused of using surveillance systems to monitor former romantic partners and other individuals improperly. The Darth Vader appearance quickly went viral after a video of the speech was posted online, drawing a mix of amusement and criticism.
“Don’t make flock cameras look cool please, thank you,” one commenter cautioned. Another joked, “Darth Vader must have Alzheimer’s bc his ex-girlfriend died in Episode 3.” One commenter simply declared, “Well he definitely won’t be forgotten.” The audience seemed to get the joke, with some attendees holding signs that read, “Get the Flock Out!” Still, the debate ensues over whether the potential benefits of automated surveillance outweigh concerns about privacy, government power, and possible misuse.
