Fresno Police Defend Flock Camera Use as Residents Raise Privacy Concerns at Community Forum
Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto defended the department’s use of Flock Safety surveillance cameras at a community forum Monday in central Fresno, where residents voiced privacy concerns about the license plate reading technology.
The Fresno Police Department currently uses around 70 Flock cameras and stands by the technology, according to the department. Flock Safety bills itself as a public protection technology company that uses license plate reading cameras to help law enforcement investigate crimes and locate missing people. Critics view the system as a growing surveillance network and have raised concerns about how data is collected and shared.
The forum comes as the Los Angeles Police Department recently suspended its use of Flock cameras due to concerns over data, privacy, security and distribution.
Flock founder and CEO Garrett Langley, speaking to a sister station of the local ABC affiliate, said many critics develop a better understanding after learning more about the cameras. “Once they understand what the technology actually does, not what it might do in 50 years, not what someone thinks it could do, but what it actually does day in and day out… it takes a picture of a car,” Langley said. “Most people go, this makes a lot of sense. I want my kids to be safe.” Langley believes the LAPD suspension will be temporary.
Chief Casto said the department conducts monthly audits of camera usage and is exploring whether those audits can be made public to provide greater transparency.
The Breakdown
- Fresno Police currently operate approximately 70 Flock Safety cameras that read license plates
- Residents voiced privacy concerns at a Monday community forum discussion
- The Los Angeles Police Department has suspended use of the same technology over data privacy and security concerns
- Fresno Police conduct monthly audits of how the cameras are used
- Chief Casto is exploring making those audits public
What This Means for You
If you drive in Fresno, these cameras are photographing your vehicle’s license plate. Critics have raised concerns about how data is collected and shared. Chief Casto is exploring making audit reports public to provide greater transparency.
