To say that the electorate is angry is an understatement, as is the assertion that it has a right to be.
When one considers rampant corruption and rising costs that are making it near impossible to live without concern, it’s a wonder that the proverbial camel’s back has remained unbroken.
But, there’s another factor that just might do the trick: surveillance camera systems.
At issue are Automatic License Plate Readers, installed to identify and track vehicles. The most prominent devices currently in use are those from Flock Safety.
Among the cities that contract with Flock is Rancho Palos Verdes, led by Mayor Paul Seo, under which communities and Home Owner Associations can obtain Flock cameras, with taxpayer funds covering half the cost. So far, such installations have drawn three lawsuits. That’s in addition to the other surveillance cameras Seo and his council colleagues already spent nearly $300,000 in taxpayer dollars to have installed throughout the city.
During a recent city council meeting on the issue, a Flock representative painted a rosy picture of her company’s products and practices. Her claims are contradicted by other available evidence, and Flock was not challenged at this meeting by Paul Seo or his Council, despite their known and very concerning practices around privacy and data sharing.
Here’s what we know: innocent people are being detained or arrested due to mistakes made by the system. These systems are easily hacked, without any data protection. And there isn’t clarity on how the data is being used or stored. Many have pointed out that they even violate Americans’ right to privacy under the Fourth Amendment.
In one incident reported, a motorist was pulled over by police consistently because his license plate was put on a “Flock camera hot list.” But there was no warrant out on him, and he has faced roadblock after roadblock to get his license plate out of the system.
In another case, a woman’s car got captured on a Flock camera while she was near the scene of a fatal hit-and-run incident. Though unconnected, she had to spend almost two weeks in jail.
A woman was even sought after when seeking abortion care, with law enforcement using data retrieved from a Flock camera.
One has to wonder whether Paul Seo and his council have heard such stories or are simply unaffected by them. Indeed, there has been a steady drumbeat of approval for the last few years, despite public outrage across the country.
If the matter of safety, liability and privacy is re-considered, perhaps Seo and the Council will finally hear a cross-spectrum chorus to Get the Flock Out!