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Berkeley delays vote on proposed Flock Safety fixed-camera contract after large public protest
Summary
After hours of public comment raising privacy and immigrant-safety concerns, Berkeley officials removed the proposed Flock Safety fixed-camera contract from tonight’s action calendar and said they will return it Oct. 28 following community meetings and further review.
The Berkeley City Council on Sept. 9 deferred consideration of a proposed contract with Flock Safety for fixed surveillance cameras after sustained public opposition and staff requests for more time to study legal and policy implications.
The city manager announced item 24 would be taken off the calendar and brought back Oct. 28 to align city use policy with the proposed contract, allow additional community meetings, review other camera vendors and study other cities’ experiences.
Speakers urged the council not to proceed. Advocacy organizations and residents told the council they had evidence that Flock had shared data with federal agencies in other jurisdictions and warned of risks to immigrants and people of color. Kit (a member of the public) called attention to contract language and federal legal process, saying, “if Flock receives a legal request or demand including subpoenas, courts, orders, or other process, to the extent legally permitted, Flock will properly, promptly notify customer,” and warned that in some cases (for example, under FISA) companies can be legally barred from notifying customers.
Rebecca Gurney of East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, who represents a local immigrant-rights organization, told the council the group serves thousands of immigrants and argued that the proposed contract “poses a threat that contracting with Flock Safety would jeopardize the safety of undocumented Berkeley community members” and urged cancelling the contract.
Other residents and community organizations urged the council to consider terminating existing Flock relationships, review whether city-owned data might be compelled to be shared, and to prioritize alternatives focused on traffic-safety technologies rather than broad surveillance.
The mayor confirmed the item is delayed and that the city will hold an information session for community members and stakeholders before the council considers the contract again. No formal council vote on the contract was taken on Sept. 9.
