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Nexar Dashcam Hack Reveals Private Videos, Flock Partnership

SEP 8 2025·Updated SEP 9 2025

Story

Image credit: Unsplash

The Facts

A hacker has reportedly breached the database of vehicle dashcam company Nexar, accessing terabytes of video recordings from dashcams installed in drivers' cars and obtaining footage that captured people clearly unaware of third-party surveillance.
404 Media
Malware.news
The hacker found over 130 terabytes of data stored in an improperly secured Amazon Web Services bucket, with access keys embedded in every Nexar dashcam, providing excessive privileges to the database.
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Malware.news
Nexar operates as a dashcam company that markets its products as virtual CCTV cameras, selling access to blurred images and related data captured by the cameras to other companies and agencies.
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Malware.news
The compromised videos included footage of people in private moments, such as a parent soothing a baby, individuals on phone calls, and drivers near sensitive locations — including CIA headquarters and Department of Defense facilities.
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Malware.news
Companies and organizations that have accessed Nexar's data include Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Niantic, Lyft, Waymo, the cities of Los Angeles and Austin and the NYPD, according to documents found by the hacker.
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Malware.news
Flock Safety, a surveillance company operating automatic license plate reader cameras, is exploring integration with Nexar's AI-powered dashcam technology, potentially expanding surveillance capabilities to private vehicles.
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Jalopnik

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The Spin

Techno-skeptic narrative

The Nexar hack reveals the surveillance and AI industries' blatant disregard for privacy. Dashcams, marketed as "virtual CCTV," capture private moments — parents soothing babies, drivers whistling — without clear consent for third-party use. Terabytes of data, including unblurred videos near CIA headquarters, were easily accessed due to poor security. Tech giants like Microsoft and Google tapping this data show how AI fuels invasive surveillance, eroding trust.

404 Media

Techno-optimist narrative

While every tech company has its issues with hacking, the Nexar breach doesn't indict the entire surveillance and AI industries. Dashcams, such as Nexar's, provide critical evidence for accident disputes and enhance driver safety, with features like 24/7 parking mode and cloud backup. Privacy concerns are valid, but Nexar's opt-in/out policies and blurred public images show efforts to balance security and privacy, unlike pervasive surveillance systems.

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Editor's Note

This story currently has limited coverage. We will continue to monitor all major outlets and update our reporting as additional information becomes available.