What are Flock cameras, and why are they controversial in Oakland?

"If you've driven in Oakland recently, your car's license plate number has almost certainly been recorded and stored in a privately owned database used by the police to investigate crimes. That database is owned and operated by Flock Safety, a company that provides surveillance technologies - including automated license plate readers, drones, and gunshot detectors - to thousands of law enforcement agencies and communities across the U.S. Here in Oakland, Flock has installed nearly 300 license plate reader cameras."

"License plate reader cameras are surveillance tools that automatically record the license plate number of every vehicle that passes within their sight. They can be fixed to a pole or another stationary location, or a vehicle. All these license plate scans become data that police use to investigate crimes. Officers can get real-time alerts when a camera spots a license plate that's on a stolen or wanted car. Or, the police can search the database to trace a specific vehicle's movements."

"Flock Safety is a law enforcement technology company that operates what it calls a "nationwide public-private safety network" of surveillance cameras, drones, license plate readers, and other devices. It has contracts with over 5,000 communities, 4,500 law enforcement agencies, and 1,000 businesses nationwide. The company, based in Georgia, is valued at $7.5 billion and receives nearly $700 million in venture capital funding, according to its website. One of Flock's products is a line of license plate reader cameras."

Nearly every vehicle that drives in Oakland has its license plate automatically recorded and stored in a privately owned database accessible to police for crime investigations. Flock Safety owns and operates the database and has installed nearly 300 license plate reader cameras in Oakland. License plate reader cameras capture a vehicle's plate number when it passes within sight and can be mounted on poles or vehicles. Plate scans are searchable and can trigger real-time alerts for stolen or wanted vehicles, enabling police to trace vehicle movements. Flock Safety operates a nationwide network of surveillance devices and holds contracts with thousands of communities, agencies, and businesses, and has substantial venture capital funding.

Read at The Oaklandside