Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) systems raise serious privacy and civil liberties concerns for the residents of South St. Paul. The ongoing rollout and installation of Flock Surveillance Cameras around our community threatens to upend the freedom and privacy that we hold dear. Collecting and potentially tracking our daily movements creates an invasive surveillance environment that does not reflect our local values.

According to studies from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, ALPR systems capture thousands of images every minute, documenting the movements of citizens who are not suspected of any crime. While the South St. Paul Police Department points out that our local data is encrypted, encryption alone cannot guarantee a foolproof system. The real danger is not just data leaking from a camera wire—the danger is the security of the network itself.

This security risk was explicitly exposed in a federal investigation led by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi. The lawmakers urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate Flock Safety for negligent security practices, revealing that hackers have already compromised law enforcement accounts to access tracking data. They warned that Flock’s centralized network lacks mandatory multi-factor authentication, making it a high-value target for cybercriminals and foreign spies.

While South St. Paul has posted a basic 30-day data retention policy, a concerning lack of independent oversight remains. There are no strict local auditing protocols or clear transparency regarding which external law enforcement or federal databases can tap into our community’s travel logs. If the system is not completely secure, our city is unnecessarily risking our personal data privacy.

We believe that public safety is paramount, yet it must not come at the expense of our constitutional liberties. Other municipal governments are actively pausing or canceling their Flock contracts due to these exact liabilities. South St. Paul must explore alternative, less invasive security measures that protect our neighborhoods without tracking innocent drivers.

Let us stand together to protect our privacy from overreaching surveillance. We demand that the South St. Paul City Council immediately pause this camera deployment and allow a full public consultation so resident voices can actually be heard.

Please sign this petition to voice your opposition to Flock Surveillance Cameras. Help us protect the rights and freedoms that define South St. Paul.