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Residents press council on Flock Safety cameras and police data sharing
Summary
Residents urged the Galesburg City Council to investigate Flock Safety license-plate reader cameras and tighten controls on data sharing after speakers cited documented misuses and potential nationwide data-linking risks.
Steve Jackson, an area college music instructor and Galesburg resident, told the council that while license-plate reader cameras have helped identify suspects, the devices raise privacy risks when connected to nationwide data networks. "Flock has long claimed that their license plate readers don't collect personally identifiable information," Jackson said, invoking an American Civil Liberties Union commentary he said described the company's newer products as allowing police to "jump from LPR to person."
Jackson asked the council to convene a broader community discussion, called for a public-access portal and suggested a "one-strike" contract termination policy in the event of an illicit data breach. Marian Spurgeon and Yolanda Nunez echoed his concerns during public comment, warning that interjurisdictional data sharing can enable warrantless searches and create opportunities for misuse.
Council members did not take immediate action but accepted the comments for the record. Staff has previously told the council that the Galesburg Police Department uses the cameras to assist investigations; public discussion and possible policy work were proposed by residents as next steps.
