The Brief
- Oro Valley has launched a $146,000 drone program with technology company Flock Safety, deploying four remote-operated drones to assist in emergency responses and searches for missing persons.
- Privacy advocates are raising alarms over the drones’ integrated license plate readers, citing Flock’s history of unauthorized data sharing with federal agencies.
- Police officials maintain the drones will not be used for general surveillance, asserting that cameras remain deactivated until a specific law enforcement mission is launched and that all data remains under local control.
TUCSON, Ariz. – An Arizona town has signed a one-year contract with a controversial surveillance company called Flock.
What we know:
The Oro Valley Police Department will be equipped with new drones armed with cameras, but the move is raising questions: will they be used for safety or surveillance?…