California has a vast network of surveillance cameras, reminiscent of the paranoid tone in Rockwell’s song “Somebody’s Watching Me,” all set to capture the details of people going about their day.
According to DeFlock maps, the U.S. features over 117,000 Flock Safety automatic license plate readers, with more than 16,000 stationed in California alone. These cameras monitor approximately 83% of the mapped area.
The majority of cameras are found in densely populated regions like Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Interestingly, San Francisco County holds the third-highest concentration of cameras, with 1,196 cameras for every 1,000 miles of road.
In New York State, only New York County and Kings County surpass it.
For Southern California, Orange County leads in camera density, ranking 33rd nationwide with 184 cameras per 1,000 miles, while Los Angeles County ranks 59th with 143 cameras per 1,000 miles.
These cameras, often attached to street lights, capture images of passing vehicles, documenting their license plates. This data can be used to track vehicle movements based on the recorded photos and locations.
The reader system organizes this data into searchable records, allowing users to find vehicles by plate number, make, model, and color, along with location and time stamps.
California is the leader in camera installations, followed by Florida with 7,169, Georgia with 7,046, and Illinois with 5,822.
DeFlock operates as an open-source initiative, relying on public feedback and various sources to map camera locations. This approach tends to highlight populated areas where more people can report where cameras are situated.
While police maintain that these cameras aid in locating criminals and recovering stolen vehicles, privacy advocates express concerns. In Los Angeles, there are worries that these tools might be misused for immigration enforcement or as personal instruments by some law enforcement personnel.
“What happens to Flock Safety as a roadmap to mass deportation?” questioned Hamid Khan, part of the Los Angeles Police Spy Coalition, in a conversation with ABC 7. “We know that they are monitoring personal relationships; what could become of such a tool in law enforcement hands?”
Leaders at Flock Safety assert that their technology is not meant for mass surveillance or immigration control; rather, its purpose is to enhance public safety.
“We prioritize the principles on which our company was founded: to provide cities with tools for public safety while ensuring accountability and transparency,” said Garrett Langley, CEO and co-founder of Flock Safety.
“It’s possible to focus on public safety without compromising community values.”
This month, the Los Angeles Police Department renegotiated its contract with Flock Safety amid privacy and data-sharing concerns. Langley responded to privacy worries, claiming they don’t collect personal details, saying, “We can’t see inside a car or a person’s heart rate; we only capture license plate images.”
He highlighted California’s regulations that keep ALPR data within the state, ensuring customers have control over their data’s distribution.
“In California, it’s against state law to take ALPR data out of the state,” Langley noted.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell reassured the public that as new technologies are assessed, privacy protection remains a priority.
“Our department will always uphold privacy considerations and responsible data management,” McDonnell stated.
As of last week, the LAPD was still in discussions with Flock Safety, and Langley expressed optimism that they would soon reconcile their differences and resume operations.
