Knox County Voters Oppose Flock Safety Cameras, Creating Liability for Candidates
A recent poll conducted by Spry Strategies, a local Republican polling firm, reveals that 58% of Knox County residents reject the use of Flock Safety surveillance cameras by police. The survey of 350 likely voters found widespread awareness of the controversy surrounding these AI-enabled license plate readers and surveillance cameras. Opposition to the cameras crosses party lines, with 49% of Republicans, 75% of Democrats, and 58% of independents expressing disapproval. This sentiment makes support for Flock cameras a potential liability for candidates, as 55% of respondents indicated they would be less likely to vote for someone who supports them. The Knox County Sheriff's Office had previously contracted with Flock and installed cameras, but the rollout was paused by outgoing Sheriff Tom Spangler. The company has since announced new privacy and data protection features in response to public concerns, including instances where officers allegedly abused the system to track personal contacts. Knox County co... 
