Councilmember Shah urges public oversight and an ordinance for Flock camera use

Councilman Tanmay Shah used his extended time to press for greater public oversight of the city's proposed Flock camera contract, describing the system as a potential "digital dragnet" that could capture residents' movement in real time and be repurposed for immigration enforcement or other uses.

Shah said he had met with Deputy Chief Schlatt to review how filters and protections would operate but said those safeguards are inadequate to prevent misuse by other agencies or actors. "The safeguards are just simply not possible," he said, raising concerns about data sharing, retention and secondary uses that could affect immigration cases and health-related privacy (for example, abortion-related travel or care).

Shah said he welcomed an administration plan reported in the meeting by Director Drummond to bring an ordinance to council to authorize the Flock system. "I appreciate that," Shah said, and urged that any ordinance include robust public hearings, transparent data-use agreements and oversight mechanisms so residents understand how their data will be handled.

Council members said they expect a full table discussion and oversight at committee. No final authorization vote occurred at this meeting; Shah and other members asked for clearer public records and for the administration to avoid sidestepping counsel and public hearings.

The discussion placed Flock alongside earlier debates about surveillance contracts (ShotSpotter was mentioned) and raised questions about how the city will negotiate data-access, retention and third-party sharing.