Flock out of Dena!
After the Eaton Fire, the LA Sheriff blanketed much of Altadena with ALPR cameras.
Since then, we have learned that ALPR cameras are used by ICE to snatch people off the streets.
ALPR cameras do not make us safer, surveillance does not protect our communities.
Altadena deserves better. We know that safety is not brought about by surveillance and policing. True safety comes from community and life-giving infrastructure.
What is Flock?
Flock Safety is a company that sells surveillance camera technology to law enforcement and private entities.
Flock ALPR cameras are being used for indiscriminate surveillance, tracking and targeting of countless individuals. While Flock, law enforcement and city government tout the benefits of automated license plate readers for public safety, in reality it endangers everyone - in particular immigrants and their families, people of color, people seeking sensitive healthcare, and the many exercising civil liberties like free speech.
Flock cameras and technology…
👁️ Infringe on our right to privacy and give police too much power to surveil us
🧊 Have been used by ICE and DHS to track and deport immigration targets
💸 Are an expensive waste of money that could otherwise go into community programs
Flock camera mounted on a pole, powered by a solar panel. (Image Source: GovTech)
Flock's indiscriminate surveillance is in conflict with constitutional protections and numerous civil liberties groups such as the ACLU and the Electronic Frontier Foundation arguing that the technology infringes on Americans’ right to privacy under the Fourth Amendment. Despite repeated attempts from Flock to reform their system, it is apparent ALPR is problematic, insecure and can have devastating consequences for innocent individuals. Academics, researchers and experts overwhelmingly agree that there's a lack of evidence linking flock to crime reduction rates. Law enforcement says Flock is a "useful tool" - yes, it's useful in diverting resources that would otherwise go towards community oriented public safety solutions.
What can we do?
Calling on the Altadena Town Council and LA County Board of Supervisors to:
Disable and remove all Flock Safety cameras in Altadena. The cameras and their data could be requisitioned by Federal agencies like ICE at any moment. The only way to protect ourselves is to shut down and remove Flock cameras.
Commit to canceling the contract with Flock. Altadena should not renew its Flock contract and instead of funding mass surveillance, work with the community to support alternative public safety measures.
Do not replace Flock with another ALPR vendor. All ALPR - regardless of vendor - still carry privacy risks, are ripe for abuse and misuse.
Commit to using the money instead to fund community-based initiatives, not more ALPRs or surveillance tech. We know that more surveillance technology will not keep us safe. We need the Council to commit to a vision of true community safety that’s based in evidence and thoughtful consideration of what the community wants.
Altadena should join dozens of cities across the country who have ended their contracts with Flock, removed cameras and rejected any ALPR replacements such as Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz, and others.
Tell OFFICIALs to stop using Flock
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Join the movement and help the campaign to fight Flock in Dena!
see what others are saying about flock
Flock is under heavy scrutiny. Learn more about the controversy about the use of ALPR and dig into the data
Have a tip?
Joey Scott is a Los Angeles-based investigative journalist and documentary photographer. He covers policing, inequality, and injustice. He’s currently working on LASD use of Flock.
frequently asked questions
Doesn’t Flock ALPR HElp solve crimes?
1
The ends don’t justify the means. Flock ALPR is warrantless mass surveillance that tracks the movements of cars and people - even if not involved in any crime.
does Altadena share ALPR out of state or with federal agencies?
2
The LA Sheriff has refused to provide records to demonstrate if it does or does not currently or has historically shared ALPR data with out-of-state agencies, or if their ALPR network has been accessed by federal agencies. Reporter Joey Scott is suing the LASD for Flock records.
aren’t there laws to regulate the use of ALPR?
3
Yes, the state of California passed ALPR regulation, however, law enforcement agencies across the state have been violating state law for years.
does altadena regulate ALPR at the local level?
4
No, Altadena Town Council has not imposed any guardrails or regulations on the use of ALPR.
Like many others, Altadena has no surveillance oversight body, no technology guardrail ordinance, no privacy officer, and no formal mechanism ensuring that there is community input before buying or deploying technologies with surveillance capabilities.