Growing Opposition to AI Surveillance Cameras in U.S. Communities

Flock Safety, an AI surveillance company, is facing significant opposition as it expands its network of surveillance cameras across the United States. A recent city council meeting in Longmont, Colorado, highlighted this discontent, where residents expressed their concerns regarding privacy and transparency related to the city’s contract with Flock. The meeting was attended by a full audience, with approximately 90 percent present to voice their objections. Local resident Andrew Gentry articulated the community's apprehensions, pointing out discrepancies in Flock's privacy assurances compared to the city's stated policies. Ultimately, the Longmont city council voted 5-1 against any future expansion of its contract with Flock, marking a notable victory for critics of the surveillance technology.

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The backlash against Flock Safety is not isolated to Longmont. Across the country, communities in places like Yakima, Washington; Cleveland, Ohio; and Eugene, Oregon, have also mobilized against the installation of AI-powered cameras. These cameras, primarily deployed at the request of municipal police departments, utilize Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology, which has been criticized for leading to false positives and misuse by law enforcement. Incidents have surfaced, such as the Atlanta police chief allegedly using Flock's ALPR to stalk individuals and a Texas officer tracking a woman suspected of seeking an out-of-state abortion.

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In addition to formal protests, some individuals have taken direct action against Flock's surveillance infrastructure. A recent incident in Suffolk, Virginia, involved a man accused of vandalizing 13 Flock cameras. Meanwhile, grassroots initiatives like the open-source project DeFlock are gaining traction, aiming to map ALPR installations nationwide. Despite receiving a cease and desist order from Flock, the project's activist has continued his efforts with support from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, showcasing the determination of those opposed to surveillance technologies.

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The growing opposition has prompted various stakeholders to reassess the implications of AI surveillance. Critics argue that the expansion of such technologies poses significant risks to civil liberties and privacy. Local governments are now under pressure to evaluate their contracts with surveillance companies like Flock Safety, as community sentiment increasingly favors transparency and accountability.

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• “Longmont’s websites states the community’s safety cameras do not perform predictive analytics or facial recognition,” — Andrew Gentry, Software Engineer and Longmont Resident

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• “Flock’s retention policy doubles the length of [data] retention used for community canvas, from 14 days to 30 days, once again signaling to me that the Flock program has been a convenient way to stretch existing privacy standards,” — Andrew Gentry, Software Engineer and Longmont Resident

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While many communities are actively opposing Flock's surveillance cameras, the extent of the backlash and its effectiveness varies. Some reports highlight successful municipal actions against Flock, while others indicate ongoing installations and support from law enforcement. The future of Flock's technology remains uncertain as communities continue to grapple with the implications of AI surveillance.

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