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Grand Rapids City Manager Mandates ALPR Systems Under Surveillance Policy for Increased Transparency

Grand Rapids City Manager Mandates ALPR Systems Under Surveillance Policy for Increased Transparency

Grand Rapids City Manager Mark Washington has announced an administrative order to place the Grand Rapids Police Department’s (GRPD) automated license plate reader (ALPR) system under the city’s Surveillance Technology Policy. This decision, influenced by feedback from the City Commission and Public Safety Committee, aims to enhance transparency regarding police technology and bolster public trust. The order will require future purchases, renewals, or expansions of ALPR systems to undergo review by the Public Safety Committee and approval by the City Commission, aligning with the process for other surveillance technologies. While GRPD has utilized ALPRs for over a decade, with the initial system approved in 2012 before the Surveillance Technology Policy was adopted, newer systems, including Flock, were previously treated as replacements and thus exempt. The administrative order will now apply all governance, oversight, reporting, complaint, audit, and transparency rules of Administrative Policy 15-03 to AL...

The Columbus Dispatch

Ginther adds Flock safeguards as council weighs ending Columbus program

Ginther adds Flock safeguards as council weighs ending Columbus program

Days after a majority of city council members said they’d support ending Flock in Columbus, Mayor Ginther has announced some changes to Flock.

Lawmakers and Privacy Advocates Call for FISA Reform Amidst Flock Camera Controversy

Lawmakers and Privacy Advocates Call for FISA Reform Amidst Flock Camera Controversy

Three teenagers in South Carolina were arrested and accused of destroying a Flock Safety camera, causing its battery to explode and ignite a fire near homes. This incident occurred on Harmony Church Road in Chester County on August 15. Investigators reported that the teenagers cut down the camera pole and then struck the equipment with a hammer, leading to the battery fire. The Chester County Sheriff's Office estimated the damages to be over $5,000. Blaze Fuller, Samuel Carlisle, and James Ryerson, all 19, were charged with felony conspiracy and malicious damage to private property. This event highlights growing national tensions surrounding Flock's automatic license plate reader network, with privacy advocates, local authorities, and lawmakers expressing opposition to the expansion of vehicle location databases. Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, has initiated an investigation into Flock, alleging the company has created an 'unprecedented national surveillance network' with over 120,000 came...

Governor DeSantis Criticizes License Plate Reader Use as 'Out of Control,' Calls for Legislative Safeguards

Governor DeSantis Criticizes License Plate Reader Use as 'Out of Control,' Calls for Legislative Safeguards

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has publicly stated that the increasing use of license plate readers (LPRs) by law enforcement agencies in Florida is 'out of control' and necessitates legislative action to protect residents' privacy. Speaking at a news conference at Florida International University, DeSantis acknowledged the utility of such tools for investigating crimes but emphasized his opposition to their use for broad surveillance of individuals not suspected of wrongdoing. He specifically mentioned systems like those from Flock Safety, noting their expansion beyond toll collection to criminal surveillance, primarily operated by local police and sheriff's offices. DeSantis indicated that while state agencies use this technology, their usage is less extensive compared to local entities. He also referenced a previous attempt to address digital surveillance through an AI bill of rights, which passed the Florida Senate but failed in the House. The Governor is reviewing New Hampshire's approach to LPR regula...

The weird coalition taking on Flock

The weird coalition taking on Flock

Liberals and conservatives can agree to hate Flock cameras. Passionately.

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Sarasota officer’s arrest tied to nationwide Flock investigation

Sarasota officer’s arrest tied to nationwide Flock investigation

Sarasota officer accused of tracking ex with Flock cameras among 19 law enforcement employees disciplined nationwide.

U.S. Congressman Marlin Stutzman Plans Bill to Restrict Flock Cameras Amid Privacy Concerns

U.S. Congressman Marlin Stutzman Plans Bill to Restrict Flock Cameras Amid Privacy Concerns

Republican Indiana Rep. Marlin Stutzman plans to introduce a bill aimed at restricting Flock cameras, citing concerns over privacy and repeated misidentification of innocent Americans. His decision follows a personal incident where a Flock camera flagged his vehicle for an expired registration, leading to an officer tracking him to his private residence. Stutzman emphasized that his primary concerns are the warrantless surveillance of millions and the frequent misidentification issues associated with these cameras. He believes that while some localities are reevaluating their use, federal action is necessary to restrict unregulated AI surveillance. This proposed bill is currently in its preliminary stages.

Frequent Flockers. Repeat searches prompt officer firings, arrests

Frequent Flockers. Repeat searches prompt officer firings, arrests

USA TODAY exposed troubling Flock camera search patterns across the country. Flock now blocks release of the data that made it possible.

Senator Hawley Launches Investigation into Flock Safety's National Surveillance Network

Senator Hawley Launches Investigation into Flock Safety's National Surveillance Network

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has initiated an investigation into Flock Safety, a company operating a nationwide network of automated license plate reader cameras. As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, Senator Hawley has formally requested information from Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley regarding the safeguards in place to protect American citizens' data. The investigation stems from concerns over the company's extensive surveillance capabilities, which include over 120,000 cameras across 49 states, conducting more than 20 billion vehicle scans monthly. Senator Hawley highlighted instances of alleged misuse, citing a St. Charles County police officer who reportedly used Flock's system for personal searches, and similar allegations in Wisconsin, Florida, and California. He emphasized that the vast majority of individuals captured by these cameras have committed no wrongdoing, raising significant privacy concerns about the scale and scope of this national survei...

Lawmakers Express Bipartisan Concerns Over AI-Powered License Plate Cameras, Citing Privacy Risks

Lawmakers Express Bipartisan Concerns Over AI-Powered License Plate Cameras, Citing Privacy Risks

Lawmakers from both Republican and Democratic parties are raising alarms over the proliferation and increasing sophistication of AI-powered automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras, particularly those from companies like Flock Safety. Concerns center on privacy violations and the potential for these devices to create a mass surveillance state. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) stated that law enforcement monitoring citizens' movements is wrong, likening it to an 'Orwellian society.' He cited an incident in his district where a former Sarasota police officer was fired for misusing Flock camera technology to spy on a single license plate over 300 times. Representative Keith Self (R-Texas) highlighted that AI has advanced these cameras beyond simple license plate reading, enabling facial recognition and interior vehicle monitoring. Representative Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) criticized private tech companies for profiting from mass surveillance, calling it a threat to democracy and civil liberties. Several l...

Mobile City Council Approves Surveillance Camera Contract Amidst Privacy Concerns

Mobile City Council Approves Surveillance Camera Contract Amidst Privacy Concerns

The Mobile City Council has approved a contract for surveillance cameras, specifically devices capable of reading license plates. This decision followed a debate regarding privacy issues and potential legislative actions by the Alabama Legislature. While Mobile does not utilize 'Flock cameras,' the city employs similar technology. Councilman Ben Reynolds raised questions about the necessity of amending the contract or altering camera usage if state laws change. Public Safety Director Curtis Graves stated that the cameras are used for 'situational awareness' and data is stored for 60 days, unless it becomes part of a criminal investigation. The contract, valued at nearly $700,000, was awarded to Pro-Tec Video, and the cameras will be overseen by the Gulf Coast Technology Center.

Tech Controversies, Including Data Centers and Surveillance Cameras, Drive Utah Political Debate

Tech Controversies, Including Data Centers and Surveillance Cameras, Drive Utah Political Debate

Tech controversies, particularly surrounding data centers and surveillance cameras, have become central political issues in Utah. Governor Spencer Cox recently criticized the approval process for the Stratos data center project as 'not good,' and businessman Kevin O’Leary apologized for the publicity management. The Legislature has held hearings on data centers, which are increasingly becoming deciding factors in elections across the country. Concerns include the hasty approval processes, undefined environmental impacts, and lack of public input for projects like the Stratos data center. Additionally, the widespread use of Flock surveillance cameras, which capture vehicle details and movements, is generating public outcry over privacy concerns, with citizens questioning the constitutionality and potential for abuse of such constant monitoring.