Growing concerns about Columbus police's use of Flock surveillance cameras is causing Columbus City Council to reevaluate its policy for the technology.
Flock is a company that provides Automated License Plate Readers, known as ALPRs. The cameras are stationed by roads to read every license plate of the cars that pass and catalog them into a searchable database.
The technology is used by many police departments in Ohio. The Columbus Police Department currently has a contract for 38 Flock cameras.
Emmanuel Remy, a Columbus City Councilmember and chair of the public safety committee, said in a statement to WOSU, "I take privacy concerns surrounding police technology very seriously. This includes Flock cameras, which both residents and Council have questions about. Council has taken action and passed laws to ensure City resources are not used to support federal immigration enforcement, including DHS activity targeting undocumented residents."
Flock has faced increased criticism from the ACLU and activists after Flock cameras were used by the Department of Homeland Security for immigration enforcement.
Flock cameras include a feature that allows police departments to share access to their cameras with other police departments nationwide. Reporting from 404 Media found this feature allowed Texas authorities to track a woman who traveled for an abortion across state lines.
Remy also included in his statement that his office is having ongoing discussions with police about the technology.
“The use of any technology being used in law enforcement requires a careful, fact-driven understanding, which is why my office is actively engaged in dialogue with the Division of Police as it develops an updated comprehensive policy governing the use of Flock,” the statement read.
Columbus police also have contracts with Axon for body-worn cameras, drones and automatic license plate readers, Genetec for Neighborhood Safety Cameras and SoundThinking for a gunfire detection system.
