Municipalities Pause Flock Surveillance Amid Privacy Protests

Local governments in Washington and Connecticut are scaling back the use of Flock Safety license plate readers following intense public debate over mass surveillance. In Sunnyside, Washington, the Sunnyside City Council voted to end its contract for a mobile camera trailer, although the city will maintain 36 stationary units. Interim City Manager Pat Haley stated the council decided not to approve the continuation of that specific contract, while noting that the city has implemented safeguards to prevent unauthorized police searches.

Similar tensions have emerged in Connecticut, where Governor Ned Lamont issued guidance for towns to pause camera installations pending a review by a state police agency. In Milford, residents confronted Police Chief Keith Mello during a town hall meeting, while State Senator Bob Duff advocated for a pause to broaden privacy protections. The ACLU of Connecticut and other advocacy groups argue the AI-coupled networks enable mass surveillance.

In response to the backlash, Flock Safety recommended reducing data retention from 30 days to seven. Chief Legal Officer Dan Haley denied claims that a nationwide database exists to track movements. Despite the controversy, supporters in Sunnyside point to a significant drop in car thefts, which fell from over 300 to just over 100 since the cameras were deployed.