Their cities dropped Flock surveillance cameras. They’re still being watched

Key Points:

• Longmont, Colorado initially ended its contract with Flock Safety's automated license plate readers (ALPRs) amid privacy concerns, but soon approved a new contract with Axon, a larger police tech company, to install similar surveillance cameras.
• Privacy advocates criticize ALPRs for creating mass surveillance without warrants, capturing data on innocent drivers, and potential misuse by law enforcement, including stalking and sharing data with immigration authorities.
• Axon, which also produces Tasers and body cameras, has replaced Flock in multiple municipalities, promoting its stronger privacy policies, but experts warn that Axon's extensive surveillance infrastructure and AI integration pose significant privacy risks.
• Several cities face challenges with Flock removing deactivated cameras, leading some to physically cover the devices, highlighting ongoing issues with surveillance creep despite contract cancellations.
• Advocates call for stricter regulations, including warrant requirements and minimal data retention times, and emphasize the need for transparent local review boards to oversee surveillance technology use, while pushing for broader data governance reforms beyond individual vendors.