Cities are starting to rethink the installation of surveillance cameras that are said to help reduce crime, but there’s still a long journey ahead.
Interestingly, the largest surveillance firm in the nation claims to be facing opposition from activists pushing to defund police services.
Public access to a detailed map showcasing automatic license plate recognition cameras set up along the coastline and throughout cities in the Great Lakes region is now available. Reports indicate there are nearly 100,000 such cameras across the United States. DeFlock Maps gives specific numbers, noting that just over 97,000 are in place, with the majority—more than 80,000—coming from Flock Safety, a single company.
This Atlanta-based tech and surveillance firm employs approximately 1,500 individuals, and it’s in the process of expanding a network that aims to decrease crime in areas where their technology is utilized. The company, as stated on their website, claims to be trusted by over 5,000 law enforcement bodies. They boast significant crime reductions, citing a 56% yearly drop in one Californian city and a 52% decrease in robberies in Cobb County, Georgia.
Flock’s technology relies on solar power and artificial intelligence. These cameras are meant to operate within an extensive network of connected devices that allow law enforcement agencies to surveil public spaces like stores and city streets to identify suspects and their vehicles to aid investigations.
Despite this, some cities have opted out of this service due to privacy concerns for residents.
For example, Bend, Oregon has published an extensive report on surveillance capabilities, and cities like Charlottesville and Staunton in Virginia have severed ties with Flock after receiving what they described as “pouting” emails from the company.
Charlottesville Police Chief Michael Kochis shared that he found the email from Flock’s CEO to be unprofessional and largely ignored it. Staunton Police Chief Jim Williams mentioned he received an email asserting that the company was under “attack” from activists.
The CEO, Garrett Langley, emphasized that they have always faced these challenges and attributed unfavorable online content to the same activists seeking to undermine public safety.
In response to the CEO’s email, Williams expressed skepticism about the notion of an organized attack, suggesting that residents are simply voicing apprehensions about potential surveillance of civilians.
Following this, Staunton announced its contract termination with Flock. Langley pointed out that organizations like the ACLU have criticized the company, claiming Flock is developing a “dangerous nationwide mass surveillance infrastructure.” However, the ACLU expressed concerns largely related to how these resources could be misused by Immigration and Customs Enforcement against undocumented individuals.
Langley maintains that removing Flock from local jurisdictions would impede efforts to tackle gun violence, referencing a city in Mississippi that saw a 79% reduction in violent crime and a 90% drop in homicides within a year.
In a recent message, he questioned community concerns about police surveillance when the same community often clamors for action against gun violence following mass shooting incidents.
