# Lawsuit alleges Flock cameras violate Californians' privacy
# KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kuw347H5i-8

department in.
This investigation.
Christien Kafton live for us at
This investigation.
Christien Kafton live for us at
police headquarters in San
Christien Kafton live for us at
police headquarters in San
Francisco. Thank you. Christian.
police headquarters in San
Francisco. Thank you. Christian.
Well, a new class action
Francisco. Thank you. Christian.
Well, a new class action
lawsuit is taking aim at.
Well, a new class action
lawsuit is taking aim at.
License plate reader cameras
lawsuit is taking aim at.
License plate reader cameras
saying they’ve been used
License plate reader cameras
saying they’ve been used
illegally in California and
saying they’ve been used
illegally in California and
seeking compensation for
illegally in California and
seeking compensation for
victims. This comes as many
seeking compensation for
victims. This comes as many
police departments in the Bay
victims. This comes as many
police departments in the Bay
area are already terminating
police departments in the Bay
area are already terminating
their contracts with FLoC, the
area are already terminating
their contracts with FLoC, the
company that operates them.
their contracts with FLoC, the
company that operates them.
KTVU. S and Ruben joins us live
company that operates them.
KTVU. S and Ruben joins us live
from San Jose. And and FLoC
KTVU. S and Ruben joins us live
from San Jose. And and FLoC
strongly denies any wrongdoing
from San Jose. And and FLoC
strongly denies any wrongdoing
here.
strongly denies any wrongdoing
here.
Yeah. That’s right. FLoC
here.
Yeah. That’s right. FLoC
says that their goal is to help
Yeah. That’s right. FLoC
says that their goal is to help
investigators solve serious
says that their goal is to help
investigators solve serious
crimes while protecting civil
investigators solve serious
crimes while protecting civil
liberties. And while some
crimes while protecting civil
liberties. And while some
departments believe that FLoC
liberties. And while some
departments believe that FLoC
is doing this well, other
departments believe that FLoC
is doing this well, other
departments aren’t so sure.
is doing this well, other
departments aren’t so sure.
FLoC safety is facing a class
departments aren’t so sure.
FLoC safety is facing a class
action lawsuit filed by an
FLoC safety is facing a class
action lawsuit filed by an
Oakland based firm. It alleges
action lawsuit filed by an
Oakland based firm. It alleges
the company’s license plate
Oakland based firm. It alleges
the company’s license plate
reading cameras are violating
the company’s license plate
reading cameras are violating
the law and the privacy of
reading cameras are violating
the law and the privacy of
California residents.
the law and the privacy of
California residents.
The problem that we allege
California residents.
The problem that we allege
is that FLoC is sharing this
The problem that we allege
is that FLoC is sharing this
information on California
is that FLoC is sharing this
information on California
drivers with out of state law
information on California
drivers with out of state law
enforcement and the federal
drivers with out of state law
enforcement and the federal
government, which is illegal
enforcement and the federal
government, which is illegal
under California law.
government, which is illegal
under California law.
The problem, they say, is
under California law.
The problem, they say, is
huge. For example, they believe
The problem, they say, is
huge. For example, they believe
FLoC allowed out of state
huge. For example, they believe
FLoC allowed out of state
agencies to search the San
FLoC allowed out of state
agencies to search the San
Francisco Police Department’s
agencies to search the San
Francisco Police Department’s
database more than 1.6 million
Francisco Police Department’s
database more than 1.6 million
times over a seven month period
database more than 1.6 million
times over a seven month period
in Los Altos. They say the
times over a seven month period
in Los Altos. They say the
number of outside searches was
in Los Altos. They say the
number of outside searches was
also more than a million. Some
number of outside searches was
also more than a million. Some
departments, like Mountain View,
also more than a million. Some
departments, like Mountain View,
found violations and terminated
departments, like Mountain View,
found violations and terminated
their FLoC contracts
found violations and terminated
their FLoC contracts
immediately.
their FLoC contracts
immediately.
The goal of that tool is to
immediately.
The goal of that tool is to
benefit our community and not
The goal of that tool is to
benefit our community and not
provide harm to it. So like
benefit our community and not
provide harm to it. So like
this is why we moved so fast.
provide harm to it. So like
this is why we moved so fast.
One of the biggest concerns
this is why we moved so fast.
One of the biggest concerns
that federal agencies might
One of the biggest concerns
that federal agencies might
access the cameras in El
that federal agencies might
access the cameras in El
Cerrito. An audit found that to
access the cameras in El
Cerrito. An audit found that to
be the case at first when the
Cerrito. An audit found that to
be the case at first when the
cameras were installed, but
be the case at first when the
cameras were installed, but
then again later when settings
cameras were installed, but
then again later when settings
should have prevented the
then again later when settings
should have prevented the
intrusion.
should have prevented the
intrusion.
We found these two other
intrusion.
We found these two other
incidents of federal sharing
We found these two other
incidents of federal sharing
that came as a surprise to me.
incidents of federal sharing
that came as a surprise to me.
But Chief Paul Keith says
that came as a surprise to me.
But Chief Paul Keith says
FLoC has been responsive and
But Chief Paul Keith says
FLoC has been responsive and
put new safeguards in place.
FLoC has been responsive and
put new safeguards in place.
The modern version of FLoC
put new safeguards in place.
The modern version of FLoC
really does take that out of
The modern version of FLoC
really does take that out of
the department’s hands. I mean,
really does take that out of
the department’s hands. I mean,
the very first thing that pops
the department’s hands. I mean,
the very first thing that pops
on now when you log into FLoC
the very first thing that pops
on now when you log into FLoC
is this is only for California
on now when you log into FLoC
is this is only for California
agencies. There’s a whole
is this is only for California
agencies. There’s a whole
disclaimer that you have to go
agencies. There’s a whole
disclaimer that you have to go
through before you can even
disclaimer that you have to go
through before you can even
access the system. Now.
through before you can even
access the system. Now.
Other departments like San
access the system. Now.
Other departments like San
Jose are taking safeguards a
Other departments like San
Jose are taking safeguards a
step further. They plan to
Jose are taking safeguards a
step further. They plan to
demand more documentation from
step further. They plan to
demand more documentation from
outside agencies, plus limit
demand more documentation from
outside agencies, plus limit
the location of cameras and how
outside agencies, plus limit
the location of cameras and how
long they hold onto data. Still,
the location of cameras and how
long they hold onto data. Still,
lawyers say this is not enough.
long they hold onto data. Still,
lawyers say this is not enough.
The class action suit demands
lawyers say this is not enough.
The class action suit demands
compensation for millions of
The class action suit demands
compensation for millions of
victims in California, as well
compensation for millions of
victims in California, as well
as changes to the way FLoC
victims in California, as well
as changes to the way FLoC
operates.
as changes to the way FLoC
operates.
They have to be beholden to
operates.
They have to be beholden to
the laws that they claim
They have to be beholden to
the laws that they claim
they’re trying to enforce, just
the laws that they claim
they’re trying to enforce, just
like everybody else.
they’re trying to enforce, just
like everybody else.
FLoC released a statement
like everybody else.
FLoC released a statement
saying it takes privacy, legal
FLoC released a statement
saying it takes privacy, legal
compliance and data security
saying it takes privacy, legal
compliance and data security
extremely seriously, adding
compliance and data security
extremely seriously, adding
FLoC intends to vigorously
extremely seriously, adding
FLoC intends to vigorously
defend itself against the
FLoC intends to vigorously
defend itself against the
asserted claims and allegations.
defend itself against the
asserted claims and allegations.
El Cerrito police will hold a
asserted claims and allegations.
El Cerrito police will hold a
public meeting on their
El Cerrito police will hold a
public meeting on their
findings on March 10th. On that
public meeting on their
findings on March 10th. On that
same date, San Jose plans to
findings on March 10th. On that
same date, San Jose plans to
take their proposed changes
same date, San Jose plans to
take their proposed changes
before the city council.