Why US cities are deactivating Flock Safety cameras and canceling contracts
Several U.S. cities are deactivating or canceling contracts with Flock Safety due to growing concerns over privacy, mass surveillance, and the misuse of automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology. The backlash has also included instances of physical vandalism against the camera systems.
Why it matters
This reflects a broader societal tension between the desire for public safety through surveillance and the protection of individual privacy rights.
A growing backlash against Flock’s Safety's Automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras is spreading across the United States, with hundreds of cities deactivating cameras or ending contracts while some residents have physically damaged the devices. The opposition is largely driven by concerns over privacy, the scale of data collection and reports of misuse by law enforcement. Flock says it has around 120,000 ALPR and pan, tilt and zoom cameras deployed across the US, creating a large network that can help police track vehicles. However, critics argue that the same system can also be used to monitor people’s movements, raising concerns about mass surveillance.US cities deactivate Flock cameras and cancel contractsCity governments in several parts of the US have started taking action against Flock’s camera network.
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