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Residents urge Richmond council to cut Flock Safety spending, citing privacy and misuse concerns
Summary
During the budget hearing dozens of residents urged council to cancel or limit the city’s contract with Flock Safety and to reallocate funds to sidewalks, schools and housing; speakers cited reported data breaches, federal agency access, and local incidents of misuse.
Dozens of Richmond residents used the public-comment period to press the City Council to end or reduce spending on Flock Safety automated license-plate readers and related surveillance technology, arguing the systems threaten privacy and have been misused.
Speakers described a pattern of issues they say demonstrates how the technology can be abused. “Flock is dangerous. It's dangerous for Richmond,” said Nicole Yacom, a 2nd District resident who called for cancellation of the city’s contract and reallocation of the funds to community priorities. William Allman, a retired accountant who has tracked litigation connected to similar contracts around the country, warned that…
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