The Fourth Amendment protects Americans from unreasonable searches and government intrusion into their privacy. As residents of Folsom, California, we believe the widespread use of Flock surveillance cameras raises serious questions about those protections. We are deeply concerned about the invasive nature of Flock cameras installed across our city. Every day, we feel as though our privacy is being encroached upon bit by bit. The omnipresence of these cameras is a constant reminder that our movements are being monitored, recorded, and potentially misused.

These Flock cameras, designed to capture images of license plates and vehicle activity (ALPR), are marketed as tools for enhancing public safety. However, they also raise significant privacy issues that cannot be ignored. The continuous monitoring of our streets leads to the storage of vast amounts of data beyond that of which is advertised, which inherently risks being accessed or misused by unauthorized parties. This has already occurred on several occasions. Police officers have unlawfully tracked citizens to serve their own self interest outside of duty, including romantic ex-partners (Institute For Justice). The unfortunate fact that this can occur is, to many residents like us, both unsettling and unacceptable.

Studies have shown that the presence of such surveillance systems can often lead to over-policing and does not always correlate with significant crime reduction. There have been multiple accounts of license plates being misread and wrongfully associated with crimes. In the town of Roseville, CA, out of 1,427 alerts sent to the PD by Flock cameras of license plates, 71% of them were read incorrectly (Institute For Justice). Additionally, the data captured can be used in ways that might infringe upon civil liberties without the knowledge or consent of those being monitored.

These Flock cameras were implemented in Folsom without a direct vote or consent from the residents whose tax dollars fund our local government. When our funds are used to create a system capable of monitoring the movements of ordinary citizens, we deserve transparency and a meaningful voice in that decision.

Privacy is a fundamental right, and as society evolves, we must balance technological advancements with the preservation of individual freedoms. We find it necessary that the city of Folsom terminates the use of Flock Safety ALPR cameras and removes the cameras from public streets.

We urge city officials to take immediate action to remove these Flock cameras and engage with the community to address safety concerns without compromising our privacy. Let’s work together to ensure that our city remains safe while upholding the values of privacy and freedom that we hold dear.

Please sign this petition to demand that the city of Folsom prioritize our privacy and remove Flock cameras from our streets.