Berkeley tries to dispel doubts it can keep feds out of its surveillance network

"A Flock Safety automated license plate reader camera in Oakland. The nonprofit Secure Justice has threatened to sue Berkeley unless it drops all its contracts with Flock, which manufactures Berkeley's ALPRs. Credit: Darwin BondGraham/The Oaklandside Facing threats of a lawsuit over its crime-fighting surveillance network, Berkeley is tightening its rules on who can collect data in the city and how, seeking to keep the data out of federal immigration agents' hands."

"Critics of the surveillance program say there's reason to worry the Trump administration will abuse it to carry out its agenda of mass deportations, and that other states will do the same to enforce their restrictions on reproductive and other medical rights. A two-year, $425,000 contract with Flock Safety for the Berkeley Police Department's network of automated license plate readers (ALPRs), is up for renewal in the coming months,"

Berkeley is tightening rules on who can collect and access data from its surveillance networks to keep information out of federal immigration agents' hands. Critics worry the Trump administration and other states could abuse the systems to enable mass deportations and enforce restrictions on reproductive and medical rights. A two-year, $425,000 contract with Flock Safety for the Berkeley Police Department's ALPR network is up for renewal, and a separate $310,000 deal for fixed cameras may go to a different vendor. Flock is under scrutiny for passing data among agencies, including to ICE. Chicago officials and sanctuary cities have raised legal concerns. Berkeley police say the rules secure data and that the technology is needed because the department is understaffed. Opponents note an incident where the California Highway Patrol and Southern California police searched Berkeley's ALPR network for terms like ICE and CBP.

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