As local leaders pause Flock camera programs over concerns about the surveillance technology, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton now says she would support bipartisan legislation to ban them.
Acton previously said she wanted to conduct a comprehensive review of law enforcement technology, including the controversial Flock Safety license plate readers. At the time,she stopped short of calling for an outright ban.
In the weeks since, Columbus police and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office announced they would pause their use of Flock cameras. Columbus' decision came after a police officer searched the same license plate number "hundreds of times" for personal reasons, The Columbus Dispatch reported.
On Sept. 1, a bipartisan group of lawmakers
asked the Ohio Department of Transportation to stop approving automated license plate readers along highways and state rights of way. And on Sept. 4, GOP Rep. Levi Dean, R-Xenia, announced a bill to ban automatic license plate readerswithout search warrants.
Acton's campaign now says she would support a bipartisan ban.
"As governor, she would support bipartisan legislation banning the use of Flock across Ohio and work to prevent the abuse of AI surveillance, because the safety and security of our communities should never come at the expense of our rights,” Acton spokesperson Virginia Schaus said. Cleveland.com first reported on Acton taking a harder line.
The license plate readers have been used to solve crimes and find missing people. But critics say mass surveillance and opportunities for misuse make them problematic tools.
“Dr. Acton’s number one priority is keeping Ohioans safe, and she believes public safety officers should have the tools they need to protect our communities," Schaus said. "However, it has become clear that AI-powered Flock cameras are prone to misuse and pose serious risks to Ohioans’ privacy."
Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has been critical of Flock technology, saying it could lead to "Chinese-style surveillance state." At another campaign stop, Ramaswamy said Flock cameras shouldn't be used to spy on residents in private spaces, including their vehicles.
"That has to be respected as a hard boundary," said Ramaswamy, adding that any abuses should be taken seriously. He hasn't detailed what legislation he'd support on Flock cameras.
Ramaswamy spokesperson Evan Machan criticized Acton over her position on the law enforcement technology.
"How can Ohioans trust Amy Acton as she constantly changes positions and refuses to debate? Her campaign is rapidly imploding as she attempts to run Tim Ryan's failed campaign playbook all over again," Machan said.
State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@usatodayco.com or @jbalmert on X.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Amy Acton now says she backs a ban on Flock cameras
