Mayor Calls for Halt on Flock Surveillance Over Privacy Concerns

Knox County, Tennessee, Mayor Glenn Jacobs has urged a “nationwide pause” on the deployment of Flock surveillance cameras. In an appearance on “The Sunday Briefing,” Jacobs expressed worries about the technology’s impact on privacy, safety, and constitutional rights.

Jacobs supports giving law enforcement tools to solve crimes, yet feels the Flock systems exceed standard license plate readers in their scope. He believes a more robust regulatory framework is necessary before widespread implementation.

“This is not about depriving [law enforcement] of the tools. It’s about figuring out how these tools can be used in an appropriate manner that is consistent with the Constitution,” Jacobs stated.

Currently, no federal regulations direct the use of Flock cameras, as existing laws date back to 2014 with minimal updates. Jacobs emphasized the need for these tools to conform to constitutional standards while allowing law enforcement to perform effectively.

An aerial image highlighted a Flock Safety camera stationed in Burbank, California, showing their growing presence.

Flock Safety, a top vendor of automated license plate readers, has become increasingly popular among law enforcement, businesses, and communities. The ACLU estimates 80,000 to 100,000 Flock cameras operate nationwide.

Flock Safety claims their systems operate in over 6,000 communities and collaborate with more than 5,000 law enforcement agencies, resulting in billions of vehicle scans monthly. As a policy, Flock deletes the data it collects after 30 days unless agencies specify otherwise.

Jacobs argued the cameras are “notoriously erroneous,” calling for a serious discussion on their usage, echoing sentiments from West Virginia legislators who seek to ban the cameras for infringing on Fourth Amendment privacy rights.

Flock’s statement highlighted its data practices, responding to the ongoing national debate over surveillance use.