Oakland privacy commission doesn't want Flock surveillance system expanded

"Oakland's Privacy Advisory Commission has refused to endorse the police department's plan to expand its network of surveillance cameras. The commission voted 4-2 last Thursday to recommend that the Oakland City Council not adopt a new use policy for the police department's Flock Safety cameras. The new policy would be required before OPD can fold private camera feeds into its system."

"Flock cameras may be collecting data used to enforce immigration laws Earlier this summer, the news organization 404 Media reported that local police in other states have used Flock cameras to make " immigration" related searches to support ICE investigations. Oakland police have assured the privacy commission that this wouldn't happen in Oakland because state and city law prohibit officials from sharing data with federal agencies."

Oakland's Privacy Advisory Commission refused to endorse a police plan to expand the city's Flock Safety surveillance camera network, voting 4-2 to recommend that the City Council not adopt a new use policy required for OPD to integrate private camera feeds. The city operates 292 automated license plate readers that scan plates, alert police to stolen or wanted vehicles, and allow later tracking of vehicle movements. OPD seeks to add hundreds of privately owned cameras. Commission members hesitated after discoveries that Flock cameras have been used for immigration-related searches and that other jurisdictions have searched Oakland's system for federal law enforcement.

Read at The Oaklandside