Flock surveillance cameras do far more than read license plates. They record when and where vehicles travel, newer systems can log nearby Bluetooth device identifiers, and cameras are increasingly aimed at parks, trails, sidewalks, and other places where they monitor people rather than vehicles.

This data is collected from everyone, even when they are not suspected of a crime. Flock claims it does not work with ICE, yet immigration authorities have obtained searches through local law enforcement. Police and other officials have also misused license-plate databases to track former partners, coworkers, and other people for personal reasons.

Flock says it has added multifactor authentication, but the public has not been given independent proof that strong MFA is required and properly enforced across the system. Serious authentication vulnerabilities have already been documented by federal cybersecurity authorities.

In Carpenter v. United States, the Supreme Court recognized that long-term location tracking can violate the Fourth Amendment. Spokane residents deserve a public hearing before this surveillance network expands any further.

Please sign this petition asking the Spokane City Council to pause any new Flock installations until there are enforceable warrant requirements, independent security testing, strict limits on data sharing, and meaningful penalties for misuse.