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Public commenter urges Crossville to cancel Flock surveillance cameras and require public oversight
Summary
A Crossville resident urged the council to cancel its Flock camera subscription after researchers and media reported exposed livestreams, and called for annual recorded renewal votes and monthly use reports to boost transparency and prevent misuse.
Alan Salsman, a public commenter, told the council the city should cancel its Flock camera subscription and remove the devices after media and researchers found exposed livestreams and tracking features. He cited researchers Ben Jordan and John Gaines and local and national news coverage documenting unsecured feeds and instances where officers used such systems for personal searches. "Cancel those cameras and remove them," Salsman said, urging the city to end automatic renewals and require recorded council votes before any future surveillance contracts.
Salsman also pressed for accountability measures if the city continues any contract with a vendor: an annual recorded yes-or-no council vote on renewals and monthly published use reports accessible without a public records request. He referenced misuse cases in other jurisdictions and lawsuits that could impose financial liability on taxpayers, and said community leaders in other cities rejected Flock contracts after similar controversies. The council did not take immediate action on the request and left the matter for future consideration.
