Akron City Council Debates Flock Camera Privacy Concerns
Akron City Council members debated the constitutionality and data privacy of Flock law enforcement cameras, with some calling for a program suspension and audit.
Members of the Akron City Council debated the use of Flock law enforcement cameras during a Monday night meeting, focusing on Fourth Amendment constitutionality and data privacy. Chief of Public Safety Craig Morgan defended the system, arguing that individuals have a decreased expectation of privacy on public roads and noting that the cameras lack facial recognition capabilities.
Councilmembers Eric Garrett, Margo Sommerville, and Fran Wilson challenged the indiscriminate gathering of data and the disproportionate placement of cameras in minority and low-income communities. Critics highlighted a Signal Akron analysis revealing over 10,000 national searches with vague rationales. They also cited a security breach where a fired officer, Devon Fields, accessed the system while on administrative leave.
Mayor Shammas Malik acknowledged that while the system has been used positively, there are serious questions regarding its internal and external application. Some council members proposed suspending the program to conduct a proper audit. The city's contract with the private provider remains in effect through 2028.
