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Resident raises privacy and security concerns about Flock Safety cameras; urges safeguards
Summary
A cybersecurity professional told the council Flock Safety license-plate readers overstate benefits, carry security vulnerabilities and risk warrantless tracking; he urged strict data-retention limits, audits and transparency after learning the city had selected locations for cameras.
A resident and cybersecurity professional told the St. Francis Common Council May 19 he is alarmed by the city’s contract with Flock Safety and urged the council to prioritize privacy and security safeguards.
Corey Ferris (4110 South Kenan Ave.) said he had recently learned of the town’s contract with Flock Safety and urged the council to reconsider or strengthen safeguards. Ferris said such automatic license‑plate readers (ALPRs) ‘‘enable broad warrantless tracking of people’s movements’’ and asserted the company has ‘‘critical security vulnerabilities’’ that could allow attackers to take control of cameras. He cited an industry statistic he summarized as ‘‘one out of every 10 times’’ a unit can misread a plate, and said errors have led to dangerous police encounters elsewhere.
Ferris said 68 Wisconsin municipalities have rejected ALPRs and urged St. Francis to require strong limits on data retention, mandatory audit logs,, oversight, and transparency about data access. He also called on the council to publish technical and policy safeguards and to engage with residents on privacy protections.
Council acknowledged the concerns; no formal vote to implement, amend or cancel a contract occurred at the meeting. Ferris asked for continued discussion and said he looks forward to working with the council and residents to balance safety and civil‑liberties protections.
Councilmembers and staff did not provide enrollment numbers or a detailed technical response at the meeting; any contract terms, retention policies or law‑enforcement access rules will need to be provided by staff at a subsequent discussion if council chooses to act.
