MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The mayor of Harrisburg, Arkansas, said he is taking the city’s Flock cameras and other license plate readers offline because of privacy concerns.
Mayor Justin Kimble, who is a lieutenant in the city’s police department, said in a Facebook post that he had been researching the license plate surveillance systems and was “shocked” by what he learned.
He said the cameras have legitimate uses for law enforcement, like locating stolen vehicles and missing people, but the databases of information retained were problematic for privacy rights.
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“I have made the decision to have all known automated license plate reader cameras belonging to the City of Harrisburg covered with black trash bags and taken offline,” Kimble wrote. “The people should never become servants of the technology. Until I am satisfied that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect the privacy and constitutional rights of the citizens we serve, Harrisburg’s cameras will remain covered and offline and/or completely removed.”…