Colorado's Salida Police Department is backing away from Flock Safety's automated license plate reader system after residents in the community raised concerns about privacy, the Cañon City Daily Record reported.
Here's what to know
After extended discussion both publicly and within the agency, the Salida Police Department said it will cancel its agreement for Flock Safety's automated license plate reader system, according to the Cañon City Daily Record.
In a statement posted to Facebook, the Salida Police Department wrote, "These cameras are and have been a helpful tool in many situations, and while we believe they have been beneficial to assisting our city, there have been many questions about privacy, data retention, access to information, and inappropriate use of the technology with the Flock system."
Salida Police Chief Russ Johnson added, "We recognize that the use of technology in public safety must be balanced with the privacy, civil liberties, and concerns of the people we serve… We feel that canceling the contract is the appropriate decision at this time."
The county's Flock readers had previously been vandalized. According to the Cañon City Daily Record, four Flock cameras used by the Summit County Sheriff's Office were damaged in August.
More background
The Salida move is a part of the pushback people are creating across the country against controversial AI-assisted monitoring technology.
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This is also happening in part because of alleged misuse cases in several states as well. As of writing, the Institute of Justice reported there have been 17 instances of police officers allegedly using Flock plate readers to stalk romantic interests this year alone.
DeFlock, an organization aiming to protect people from automated license plate reader technology and its use, reports that more than 50 agencies or jurisdictions have now dropped, paused, turned down, or shut off Flock camera arrangements.
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