Remove Flock cameras from Kingston, NY
The Issue
From personal observation in Kingston, NY, the installation of Flock cameras meant to increase public safety feels more like an invasion of privacy and a violation of our personal freedom and individual sovereignty . These cameras capture license plates and track vehicle movements, turning our peaceful community into a surveillance zone with chilling effects on our societal wellbeing.
The founding principle of our nation—that freedom should not be sacrificed for a perception of safety—rings particularly true here. Data from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Georgetown Law reveal that facial and vehicle recognition technologies can be prone to errors and biases, potentially leading to unwarranted surveillance and profiling, particularly among minority communities. This has been a concern across the nation, including neighborhoods similar to ours. The use of flock cameras by ICE poses a significant threat to many good people in our community and stands against the ethos of who we are as a city.
Source:
https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/
Furthermore, empirical studies by the Brennan Center for Justice have highlighted the disconnect between the high costs associated with surveillance technologies and their limited effectiveness in reducing crime. Kingston could instead invest these resources towards community policing initiatives and social services that address the root causes of criminal activity, without infringing on our civil liberties.
Source: https://www.brennancenter.org/topics/government-power/privacy-free-expression/policing-technology
A collaborative report by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) underscores how excess governmental surveillance can erode trust between law enforcement and communities, making it critical for us to question whether these cameras truly serve our best interest.
Source: https://www.aclusocal.org/app/uploads/2014/11/Smart-About-Surveillance.pdf
Rising voices in Kingston are calling for transparency and accountability. Our local government needs to engage with its citizens to find solutions that truly benefit us all without a downstream risk of selling our data to third parties.
Please stand with us in urging our city officials to end the use of Flock cameras. We deserve a community where safety does not come at the cost of liberty. Sign this petition to revoke the use of Flock cameras in Kingston, NY. Together, we can become stronger, show that our voices do matter and embody the spirit of revolution that our city is so proud of.
192
The Issue
From personal observation in Kingston, NY, the installation of Flock cameras meant to increase public safety feels more like an invasion of privacy and a violation of our personal freedom and individual sovereignty . These cameras capture license plates and track vehicle movements, turning our peaceful community into a surveillance zone with chilling effects on our societal wellbeing.
The founding principle of our nation—that freedom should not be sacrificed for a perception of safety—rings particularly true here. Data from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Georgetown Law reveal that facial and vehicle recognition technologies can be prone to errors and biases, potentially leading to unwarranted surveillance and profiling, particularly among minority communities. This has been a concern across the nation, including neighborhoods similar to ours. The use of flock cameras by ICE poses a significant threat to many good people in our community and stands against the ethos of who we are as a city.
Source:
https://www.404media.co/ice-taps-into-nationwide-ai-enabled-camera-network-data-shows/
Furthermore, empirical studies by the Brennan Center for Justice have highlighted the disconnect between the high costs associated with surveillance technologies and their limited effectiveness in reducing crime. Kingston could instead invest these resources towards community policing initiatives and social services that address the root causes of criminal activity, without infringing on our civil liberties.
Source: https://www.brennancenter.org/topics/government-power/privacy-free-expression/policing-technology
A collaborative report by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) underscores how excess governmental surveillance can erode trust between law enforcement and communities, making it critical for us to question whether these cameras truly serve our best interest.
Source: https://www.aclusocal.org/app/uploads/2014/11/Smart-About-Surveillance.pdf
Rising voices in Kingston are calling for transparency and accountability. Our local government needs to engage with its citizens to find solutions that truly benefit us all without a downstream risk of selling our data to third parties.
Please stand with us in urging our city officials to end the use of Flock cameras. We deserve a community where safety does not come at the cost of liberty. Sign this petition to revoke the use of Flock cameras in Kingston, NY. Together, we can become stronger, show that our voices do matter and embody the spirit of revolution that our city is so proud of.
The Decision Makers
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on August 1, 2026