"Santa Cruz first signed its contract with Flock in 2024. Over the past several months, controversy around and opposition to the company has spread as reports about the use of the cameras' data has emerged. Demands to cease the use of Flock cameras grew when Santa Cruz police Chief Bernie Escalante confirmed that the city's Flock data had been accessed by out-of-state agencies."
"O'Hara outlined the issues Santa Cruz has had with Flock, including reports that the chief executive officer of Flock had referred to anti-Flock groups as "terroristic." She also discussed the community's fears that the Trump administration would use data from Santa Cruz for immigration enforcement purposes and said that the Flock platform had repeatedly created opportunities for Santa Cruz's data to be used in ways the city never intended."
The Santa Cruz City Council voted 6-1 to terminate the city's contract with Flock Safety, which provided automated license plate cameras in Santa Cruz, Capitola and Watsonville. Santa Cruz signed the contract in 2024. Opposition grew after reports emerged about access to camera data and confirmations that out-of-state agencies had accessed the city's Flock data. Councilmembers and the mayor voted to end the contract and directed staff to pursue alternative automated license plate reader options. Concerns included reports of the Flock CEO calling anti-Flock groups 'terroristic,' fears that federal authorities could use the data for immigration enforcement, and potential misuse of data contrary to Santa Cruz values.
Read at The Mercury News
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