Local activists and some elected officials have tried and failed to get rid of Flock cameras across the county, and now pushback against the license plate readers is spreading nationwide.
Why it matters: The movement against cameras made by Flock and similar companies, fueled by concerns over privacy and police misuse, could bring new attention to local efforts to stop their use.
The big picture: Local activists and some city leaders pushed for Flock alternatives, but so far those efforts have gone nowhere.
- The city quietly signed a new deal with Flock late last year.
- After Axios revealed the deal, the Privacy Advisory Board asked to be more involved in evaluating surveillance technology, but so far no changes have been made.
Other local cities like Chula Vista also use Flock, and smaller cities have allowed the Sheriff’s Department to install them.
- They’re also in use at private businesses and shopping centers, according to KPBS.
Threat level: Some people have posted pictures on social media of Flock cameras being damaged or destroyed.
- A local man also says he spent a month in jail because Flock falsely linked him to a carjacking.
Zoom out: Flock has over 120,000 cameras across the country, the company tells Axios.
- Advocates say the cameras help police quickly track down criminals, making cities safer.
- Opponents say they’re a form of constant surveillance that infringes on residents’ civil liberties. Some have even turned to sabotaging the cameras.
Zoom in: Some police officers have been investigated over allegations they misused license plate reader data for personal reasons.
- Three Arizona cities said this week that they’re looking into officers’ use of the cameras, including one instance in which an officer is suspected of using them to track down his wife.
- In Reynoldsburg, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus, two officers resigned last week amid an investigation into misuse. An internal investigation revealed that one officer had used the tech over 40 times to track down a former domestic partner, per local reporting.
How it works: Flock and other automated license plate reader cameras are placed on streets and highways and use AI to capture and store information like car license plates, car make and other features…