The citizens of Dayton, MN, petition the city to remove the 7 Flock cameras in Dayton which pose a huge risk to our safety, privacy, and civil liberties. Flock LPR systems have been shown to be highly vulnerable to data hacking, while also storing information that is not for its intended purpose. 

Flock cameras are ALPRs (Automatic License Plate Recognition), but store far more data than just license plate numbers. There are more protections to access your own email account than there is to gain access to the continually recorded images of everyday citizens, and even the patrol routes of officers on duty—this creates a “detailed record of everyone’s movements, associations, and routines” (4). All of this information should remain private, but research into Flock cameras show the technology is easily accessible and compromised by unintended entities—a violation of the information provided by the manufacturer. These threats and risks far outweigh any benefits of the technology. In fact, studies have shown that areas with Flock camera systems have an increased rate of vehicle theft compared to locations without ALPRs (5). Due to the underdeveloped technology of Flock safety systems, they are anything but safe. Ultimately, cameras in our community have the ability to create far more malicious activity than they prevent.

Additionally, your driving history is not confined to where the cameras are installed (1). As is found on the Dayton MN PD transparency portal, the information in all of Dayton’s 7Flock cameras is shared with over 60 organizations. Beyond that, it’s secretly shared with thousands of other agencies without the consent of police departments or locals. Once the data is out of our community, we have no control over how it's used or what rules apply, leading to further instances of misuse (1).

In theory, the idea behind these cameras could be useful (which is conveniently the only part that is considered in the marketing from Flock to consumers.) Put into practice by a scammy company that assures users no biological data is recorded (when it is!), and states that images are deleted after 30 days, (which they aren’t!), makes the city more at risk and cancels out any possible benefits.

Additionally, there are numerous accounts of the AI ALPR itself misreading a license plate number leading to dangerous driving incidents where there was no actual threat. There are countless reasons why the easily accessible information stored in these cameras in the wrong hands would leave our city in a more vulnerable spot than before these cameras were installed.

We know the city is safer without this equipment and that the police department can do their job effectively and efficiently without the “help” of Flock Safety Systems who have overstated the benefits of their technology, omitted the risks, and actually taken credit for the outcomes of technology already in place before Flock.

End ties with Flock Safety Systems and remove all their cameras in Dayton, MN immediately.

https://deflock.me/​

https://deflock.me/what-is-an-alpr#faq-transparency​

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uB0gr7Fh6lY​

https://www.stopflock.com/​

https://haveibeenflocked.com/​

https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2023-07-25%20ODPA-PAB_ALPRReport_Council_Final.pdf
https://transparency.flocksafety.com/dayton-mn-pd​

Stalking instances involving Flock