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Stockton Record

‘Get the Flock out’: Residents urge Stockton City Council to end Flock contract

‘Get the Flock out’: Residents urge Stockton City Council to end Flock contract

Residents are calling on the Stockton City Council to terminate its contract with Flock Safety, citing concerns over surveillance, data sharing and privacy.

Sheboygan City Officials Move to Terminate Contract with Flock Safety Over Trust Concerns

Sheboygan City Officials Move to Terminate Contract with Flock Safety Over Trust Concerns

The city of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is considering terminating its contract with Flock Safety, a company that provides license plate reader camera systems. This decision follows concerns raised by city officials regarding the company's data usage practices and a perceived erosion of trust. Sheboygan's police chief and city administrator plan to ask the common council to approve the termination during an upcoming meeting. Public works staff have already covered the 15 Flock Safety cameras installed in the city since 2024. While the police department acknowledges the technology's effectiveness in solving serious criminal cases, Police Chief Kurt Zempel emphasized the importance of strong internal controls, community trust, and trustworthy partners. This move aligns with actions taken by other Wisconsin communities, including Oshkosh, Sturgeon Bay, Appleton, Verona, and Dane County, which have previously cut ties with Flock Safety due to privacy concerns and issues surrounding data access and sharing. The decis...

Massachusetts Lawmakers Propose New Regulations for Automated License Plate Readers Amid Privacy Concerns

Massachusetts Lawmakers Propose New Regulations for Automated License Plate Readers Amid Privacy Concerns

State Representative Steven Owens of Watertown has introduced a bill aimed at creating new rules for the use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) in Massachusetts. This move comes amid growing community pushback and concerns over privacy and surveillance, with several municipalities, including Watertown, having already canceled or ended contracts with Flock Safety, a major ALPR provider. Owens' proposal includes requiring police to obtain a court order before sharing ALPR data with outside agencies. Currently, individual law enforcement agencies decide whether to share footage with Flock Safety's database. Critics, including Owens and Northeastern University associate professor Matthew Ross, argue that ALPRs are 'ripe for abuse' and could function as a 'loophole around the Fourth Amendment,' potentially allowing tracking of individuals seeking legal care across state lines.

GA crime analyst who misused Flock previously touted 'guardrails'

GA crime analyst who misused Flock previously touted 'guardrails'

A crime analyst in Athens has become the most recent law enforcement official in Georgia to be charged with misusing Flock as controversy expands.

Advocacy Group Demands Cleveland Schools Terminate Flock Safety Camera Contract Amid Budget Cuts

Advocacy Group Demands Cleveland Schools Terminate Flock Safety Camera Contract Amid Budget Cuts

A local advocacy group, 'Flock No,' is urging the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) to end its contract with Flock Safety, a company providing license plate reader cameras. The group organized a protest outside Newton D. Baker School, demanding the removal of hundreds of surveillance cameras. According to Bryn Addams, an organizer with Flock No, the district has spent over $600,000 on these cameras, which the group considers a waste of taxpayer money, especially given recent staff layoffs and school consolidations. They argue these funds could be better utilized for educational resources and staff retention. While some residents and CMSD employees believe the cameras help deter and track crimes, parents express concerns about the psychological impact of constant surveillance on children. Molly Marcinkevicius, a mother, voiced worries about raising her child in a society with mass surveillance and emphasized that school funds should prioritize children's education.

Wilmington Star-News

Brunswick Sheriff's Office employee resigns over alleged misuse of Flock cameras

Brunswick Sheriff's Office employee resigns over alleged misuse of Flock cameras

An employee of the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office has resigned amid an investigation over alleged misuse of Flock cameras, the sheriff said.

Georgia Lawmaker Explores Legislation to Address Misuse of Flock Camera Systems by Police

Georgia Lawmaker Explores Legislation to Address Misuse of Flock Camera Systems by Police

Sen. John Albers, a Republican from Roswell, Georgia, is exploring potential legislation to curb the misuse of Flock camera systems by law enforcement. This initiative comes in response to growing public concern and numerous reports of police officers allegedly using license plate reader data for personal reasons, such as spying on friends and family. Sen. Albers, who chairs the Senate Public Safety Committee, announced on Tuesday that he is joining a new task force to investigate the necessity of such legislation. Recent incidents include charges against three former officers in Savannah for misuse of a license plate reader system and violation of oath of office, with a fourth employee also facing misuse charges. Other cases in Georgia have involved former law enforcement personnel charged with misuse, stalking, and computer invasion of privacy related to these systems.

The Columbus Dispatch

Flock camera legislation to be presented to Columbus City Council

Flock camera legislation to be presented to Columbus City Council

Columbus City Council safety chair plans action on Flock cameras by end of September as support for the technology erodes and mayor adds safeguards.

Alabama Power's Role in Expanding Surveillance Technology Raises Privacy Concerns

Alabama Power's Role in Expanding Surveillance Technology Raises Privacy Concerns

Alabama Power, the state's largest investor-owned utility, has become a key intermediary in the widespread deployment of surveillance cameras and automated license plate readers (ALPRs) across Alabama. The company markets and installs equipment from companies like Flock Safety to over 80 municipalities, businesses, and community organizations. These surveillance systems are often attached to Alabama Power's utility poles, providing easy access to power and optimal placement. The utility then bills customers for the equipment and services, often as a line item on their power bills. This arrangement has led to concerns from residents and surveillance scholars regarding privacy, data misuse, and the lack of transparency surrounding these contracts. Birmingham, for instance, approved a $9.7 million contract with Alabama Power to install and maintain 100 cameras and license plate readers, adding to 330 already in place, with U.S. Senator Katie Britt reportedly involved in securing federal funding for surveillan...

In a rare moment of unity, Americans are fighting Big Tech together

In a rare moment of unity, Americans are fighting Big Tech together

From data centers to Flock cameras to artificial intelligence, Americans are pushing back against the ambitions of Big Tech.

Georgia Lawmakers Face Renewed Calls for Stronger Digital Privacy Protections Amid Surveillance Misuse Allegations

Georgia Lawmakers Face Renewed Calls for Stronger Digital Privacy Protections Amid Surveillance Misuse Allegations

The arrests of former Savannah Police Department employees for allegedly misusing Flock Safety license plate reader data have reignited the debate over digital privacy and surveillance technology in Georgia. Three former officers face charges of violating their oaths of office and misusing the system, while a former civilian specialist is charged with two counts of misuse. These allegations were uncovered through an internal audit by the department. This incident follows a similar case in Albany, where five former officers were arrested in July for unauthorized searches of Flock data. These events have raised concerns about law enforcement personnel using surveillance databases for personal reasons rather than legitimate investigations. Under Georgia law, accessing license plate reader records for non-law-enforcement purposes is classified as a high and aggravated misdemeanor.

Texas Governor Abbott Halts State Funding for Flock Surveillance Cameras Amid Privacy Concerns

Texas Governor Abbott Halts State Funding for Flock Surveillance Cameras Amid Privacy Concerns

Governor Greg Abbott has issued an order to all state agencies to cease funding for Flock Safety surveillance cameras. This directive comes amidst growing scrutiny over the AI-powered devices, which have raised significant privacy concerns among residents and lawmakers. The order was issued as an investigation was being prepared to detail how a state agency had allocated at least $30 million to expand the state's Flock surveillance network through grants to local police departments. Abbott's spokesman confirmed that state agencies are now clarifying that these funds cannot be used for Flock cameras. The Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, largely appointed by Governor Abbott, has facilitated the installation of at least 3,200 Flock cameras since 2023, with nearly 1,200 being installed by the Department of Public Safety under a $15.9 million contract. These grants originated from a 2023 law intended to combat catalytic converter theft, with no prior discussion of using the funds for surveillance techn...