Flock cameras disabled after state funding ends

Plano officials have disabled more than 90 Flock Safety cameras after Governor Greg Abbott directed state agencies to cease funding for artificial intelligence-powered license plate readers. The city’s contract with Flock, which was supported by an annual grant of approximately $300,000 from the Texas Anti-Gang Program, has concluded as a result of this directive.

Police Chief Ed Drain stated that the city had utilized the technology for about three years and described the loss as a significant setback for public safety efforts.

Drain characterized the Flock system as a "game-changer" for the department, noting that it has contributed to Plano maintaining low crime rates. He cited a national ranking by financial technology firm SmartAsset that placed Plano as the second safest large city in the United States and the top-ranked city in Texas.

Despite these claims, the chief acknowledged that the removal of the cameras would negatively impact the department's capabilities, stating, "It is going to hurt us to lose them."

The decision to discontinue the technology comes amid growing public debate over privacy and surveillance. During a recent City Council meeting, residents expressed concerns about mass surveillance, including opposition to a newly approved program for deploying drones as first responders.

Kyle McGeehan, a council member, pointed to neighboring municipalities like Wylie and Princeton that have restricted Flock usage, arguing that political will can limit such surveillance. He stated, "Their elected leadership put liberty above security."

For the time being, Plano will not pursue alternative funding for the Flock cameras. Drain indicated that the department will monitor legislative developments at the state and federal levels before reconsidering funding options. He noted that public perception and the significant backlash against the technology influenced the decision, remarking that the benefits did not outweigh the costs.

The city continues to operate license plate reading cameras through a contract with Motorola, though these are not fixed in location like the Flock units.

In the interim, the police department plans to rely on other tools, including drones and the city’s real-time information center. Drain emphasized the importance of maintaining auditing procedures to address public concerns about surveillance. Although the Flock cameras remain physically installed in the city, the police department confirmed they are no longer in use. The hardware will be removed by the company in the future.

Source: yahoo.com.

Sources

Yahoo