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Privacy advocates warn of Flock security problems and private control of vehicle data
Summary
A public commenter cited multiple alleged Flock security incidents and warned that private custody of ALPR data enables tracking and broader access; the police chief defended local controls and ownership of the data.
At a short committee meeting, a community speaker urged the council to treat automated license‑plate readers (ALPRs) as mass‑surveillance tools and raised specific security and transparency concerns about the Flock system used by Mount Vernon police.
Scott Charland told the committee that Flock cameras "photograph every car that passes them" and claimed multiple security incidents involving the vendor: exposed cameras on the open internet, credentials for sale on hacking forums and a November/December series of flaws that left systems reachable by attackers. "Flock also lies about their products," he said, and cited statements and contract cancellations by other cities to argue that private control of long‑running movement data is risky.
Chief Morgan answered that Mount Vernon controls and owns the images, that the department’s Flock system does not collect electronic device data or use facial recognition and that access is limited to LEADS‑certified officers operating under documented lawful purposes. The chief said the department does not sell its data to third parties.
The committee did not resolve the external security claims during the meeting. Council members and staff agreed to limit the current segment for time and to accept the public comment; the chief and Mr. Charland left several points—especially the national security incidents—unresolved in the committee record.
