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Privacy, security concerns raised about city’s Flock license‑plate cameras
Summary
A resident warned the council about privacy, possible Fourth Amendment issues and reported security breaches involving the Flock license‑plate readers; the speaker asked the city to engage public comment and review policy and data‑access practices.
Tracy Welterlin told the council on Jan. 6 that Fort Worth’s license‑plate reader network — identified in her remarks as using the Flock system — raises privacy and security concerns and should be publicly reviewed.
Welterlin said the city has about 280 cameras and described license‑plate readers as systems that automatically process plates and store data. She cited Fourth Amendment concerns because the system “happens automatically to everyone every day and without a warrant,” and referenced an American Civil Liberties Union paper for legal context. She also raised IT‑security concerns, saying she had seen demos and heard of reported breaches, and noted examples in other jurisdictions where data requests were made by federal agencies.
Why it matters: Automated license‑plate readers gather vehicle-movement data at scale. Speakers asked the city to convene public discussion about retention, access, and safeguards.
What’s next: The comment requested public engagement; the transcript does not record immediate staff action or policy change.
