(WAVY) — Dare County has become the first locality in the area to end the use of Flock license plate reader cameras under the sheriff’s jurisdiction, the decision coming as a growing list of communities reconsider automated vehicle surveillance amid public privacy concerns.
Dare County commissioners vote to remove 14 Flock cameras
Flock cameras record license plates and vehicle information on public roads across Hampton Roads to assist law enforcement in criminal investigations.
However, a recent town hall meeting in Portsmouth highlighted public skepticism, with attendees citing top concerns including privacy, police misuse, data retention, public trust, vendor control and data sharing.
PPD holds public safety technology town hall meeting to talk about its use of Flock
Jessica Evans, a Portsmouth resident, voiced apprehension about the technology during the town hall meeting.
“My biggest concern with Flock is the accuracy, the storage and the safety of our personal information and the scales of how widespread these cameras are,” Evans said…