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Residents urge removal or review of Flock surveillance cameras, citing privacy and liability
Summary
Several public commenters told council that automated license-plate readers and related camera systems capture far more than plates, pose privacy and liability risks, and could undermine community policing; they asked the county to evaluate and potentially remove such devices.
Multiple residents used the public-comment period to press council for a review or removal of Flock automatic license-plate-reader cameras and other surveillance devices placed around the county. Jason Dammer described the cameras' capabilities and the effects he said the systems have on residents' sense of privacy.
"Flock cameras can identify bumper stickers, vehicle damage, toolboxes, roof racks," Dammer told council, arguing the devices collect far more than license-plate data and noting the county has spent "over $600,000" on systems whose broader capabilities include microphones and drones. He urged the council to "create a plan to remove these intrusive devices from our community." Other commenters linked the devices to concerns over community-policing relations and potential liability for the county if data are breached.
