Flock cameras are purportedly for public safety, they have been installed in hundreds of cities across the United States. But this summer alone has proven that Flock cameras are easily taken advantage of by those with access to the system’s data. A Charlotte police officer shared license plate data (gathered by Flock cameras) with a drug dealer this July, and days later an officer in Mooresville used the system to stalk her boyfriend’s ex. There have been dozens of instances across the country of officers abusing Flock data to repeatedly track people from their personal lives. These cameras and systems are largely privately owned which leaves many elements unclear. Who can access this data and for how long? Could an officer from another state access Charlotte flock data? Is the data shared with the federal government, ICE or other federal agencies? 

Beyond the concerns about privacy, data sharing, and a general lack of transparency- the system is not proving to be entirely accurate. Flock cameras rely on artificial intelligence to read license plate data. There have been multiple instances across the country of people being detained at gunpoint because the flock system incorrectly flagged their vehicle. There is no data that shows the frequency of Flock’s accuracy compared to the rate at which the data is abused or entirely inaccurate.

Tens of cities have rejected Flock contracts with others vouching not to renew existing contracts. Places like Floyd County, Virginia and Pittsboro, North Carolina where residents who are rightfully concerned about the constant surveillance of their every move, have shut off all cameras as a show of good faith to residents until the contracts expire, at which point they will not be renewed. 

We are calling on Charlotte City Council to suspend the use of the Flock network and refuse the funding and expansion of this surveillance technology until there are thorough and agreed upon safeguards in place that the Charlotte citizenry is well informed on. These safeguards should include regular audits of the system, public reporting on misuse, consequences and legal action for unauthorized searches, significant restrictions on who has access to this data and restrictions on how long the data is stored. These safeguards should then require a city council vote. Sign this petition to demand Charlotte shuts down flock cameras until the public has a say and significant oversights are put in place. A nationwide surveillance network is not something that should be quietly introduced. We must demand transparency, accountability, and representation in this decision.