Flock Cameras (thread 18), Episode 2: When the Crown Went Fishing: John Wilkes and the Danger of General Warrants

Think of this as the 18th-century origin story for modern surveillance—except with more drinking, scandal, and a pamphlet called No. 45. John Wilkes took on the government’s power to 'just go find whoever wrote it,' and ended up teaching everyone a lesson about limits on searches.

It’s surprising how relevant it still feels: whether it’s officers rifling through desks or cameras by the road, the key question is who gets labeled suspicious and who decides. This episode walks you through Wilkes’s fight, his courtroom win, and why his story still matters when we worry about surveillance today.