We, the residents of Washington County, Tennessee, are calling on our local government and law enforcement agencies to immediately halt the installation, expansion, or continued use of Flock Safety license-plate-reading cameras in our county. This petition is not anti-law-enforcement. It is pro-privacy, pro-transparency, and pro-community rights. The risks posed by mass surveillance technology operated by a private corporation outweigh the benefits being claimed.

 

Why We Oppose Flock Cameras:

 

1. Lack of public consent  

Flock cameras scan and store the movements of every vehicle that passes, including innocent residents, visitors, and children. These cameras were installed without a public vote, without transparent cost information, and without clear explanations of how long data is stored or who can access it. Surveillance should never be deployed without community approval.

 

2. Documented security vulnerabilities  

Cybersecurity researchers have identified multiple vulnerabilities in Flock’s systems, including exposure of live camera feeds, administrative dashboards, and vehicle movement logs. When a private company controls a county-wide surveillance network, any breach becomes a risk to every resident.

 

3. Data sharing beyond Washington County  

Flock’s system is designed to automatically share data with other police departments, federal agencies, out-of-state jurisdictions, and private organizations. Residents have no control over who sees their data, how long it is stored, or how it is used. This creates a permanent, trackable record of daily life for innocent people.

 

4. Disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities  

Automated surveillance tools have been shown to increase unnecessary police stops, misidentify vehicles, and lead to wrongful detentions. Rural, low-income, and minority communities are especially vulnerable to these harms, and Washington County includes all of these populations.

 

5. High cost with limited effectiveness  

Many cities report minimal impact on crime rates, high false-positive alerts, and ongoing subscription fees. Taxpayer money should be invested in community programs, mental health support, infrastructure, and proven crime-prevention strategies—not a private surveillance grid.

 

What We Are Asking For:

 

1. Immediately pause all Flock camera installations and contract renewals.  

2. Hold a public hearing with full transparency, including data on effectiveness, cost, privacy impact, and cybersecurity risks.  

3. Establish strict oversight and require community consent before deploying any surveillance technology.  

4. Remove existing Flock cameras unless the community explicitly votes to keep them.

 

Why This Matters:

 

Washington County is built on independence, personal freedom, and respect for privacy. A county-wide surveillance network undermines these values. We believe in safety, but safety without freedom is not safety at all.

 

Call to Action:

 

If you believe Washington County deserves transparency, privacy, accountability, and community-driven decision-making, please sign and share this petition. Let’s ensure our county remains a place where freedom is lived, not watched.