ASHEVILLE - Some candidates for Buncombe County political office expressed concerns in interviews with the Citizen Times about the use of Flock cameras and other surveillance technology, but said they wanted to study the issue.
Among the candidates for the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, several described a delicate balance between privacy rights and the benefits such technology brings law enforcement.
They shared their views amid a burgeoning debate in Western North Carolina and nationwide about both the potential and the pitfalls of powerful surveillance technology supported by artificial intelligence. That debate pits public-safety benefits against concerns over residents' loss of privacy, particularly given misuse of Flock technology by some
police officers for personal reasons and also interest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in utilizing surveillance tech to find undocumented immigrants.
Stearns, Stetson share thoughts on surveillance cameras
Anna Stearns, who is running as a Democrat for the District 1 seat on the board, said she was concerned about Fourth Amendment protections, which govern the right against unlawful search and seizure.
"I'm concerned about how the erosion of our expectation of privacy as we move through the world can lead to increased ability for us to be surveilled by the government," said Stearns, who works as an attorney. "At the same time, I'm very mindful of the benefits that some of those security apparatus have, especially for folks who are victims of domestic violence or persistent crime."
Stearns said she is learning more about the county's current surveillance technology contracts.
Republican Rob Stetson, Stearns' opponent for the District 1 seat, said that if the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office weren't short staffed, it wouldn't need to rely on Flock cameras.
"It's being looked at as a tool to help aid law enforcement because we don't have enough staffing," Stetson said.
He said he doesn't like surveillance technology, but the Board of Commissioners should ultimately support what the sheriff wants.
"We need to defer to the expertise of the sheriff and their staff," he said.
District 2 candidate shares views on Flock cameras
Democrat Lonnie Israel, a candidate for the District 2 seat on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, told the Citizen Times that his daughter is a lieutenant at the Wake County Sheriff's Office, and they've discussed the issue.
He said that Buncombe County commissioners need to meet with Asheville city leaders and elected officials from the other municipalities in the county to consider the pros and cons of surveillance technology.
"It's advancing so fast that it's hard to keep up with. It's why we have to meet and look into it so that we are transparent with our citizens in the county and also in the city," Israel said.
Israel's opponent, Republican Greg Parks, could not be reached for comment.
Democratic incumbent Al Whitesides, who is running unopposed for the Board of Commissioners in District 3, said that Flock cameras helped catch a murder suspect in Buncombe. He said he is still studying the issue.
"I want to know more about them, to be honest with you," he said.
Candidates for sheriff discuss use of cameras
As for the candidates for sheriff, incumbent Democratic Sheriff Quentin Miller released a statement in support of the technology, while his Republican opponent, Gary Parris, said he would have to study the issue.
Parris said that if elected, he would want to see what the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners thinks about the issue.
"If they decide to keep it, then that's a conversation we'd have about guidelines and transparency, and if they decide to pull that contract, then that kinda settles that," he said.
However, he said that if elected he would "rebuild and modernize" the Sheriff Office's Real Time Intelligence Center.
"I'm going to have to wait until I get there to see exactly what they have in the center, to see what that technology is being used for, what policies and procedures are in place with it," he said.
Sheriff Quentin Miller said license plate reader technology has helped apprehend suspects in multiple homicide cases. He said the Sheriff's Office's contract with Flock ensures that the department controls the data collected.
"Focusing on one company is not the issue, there are many companies that provide the same technology as Flock. With any system there should be local control of the data as a first step," Miller said. Any deputy who misuses data will be fired and criminally charged, the sheriff said.
"Let me be clear that I do not support sharing data with ICE and I have been outspoken about this," Miller said. "Again, this type of technology and the data that comes with it must be under local control with guardrails and restrictions in place."
Kara Fohner is the Public Safety Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Email her at kfohner@usatodayco.com or call her at 980-241-8671.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Buncombe candidates debate use of surveillance tech
