Ongoing debate over Flock surveillance cameras in California cities | KTVU

You can watch KTVU live stream as well as Live Now from Fox. It’s a free download for your as well as Live Now from Fox. It’s a free download for your smartphone and your smart TV. It’s a free download for your smartphone and your smart TV. Well, the ongoing debate over smartphone and your smart TV. Well, the ongoing debate over automated license plate readers Well, the ongoing debate over automated license plate readers has led many Bay area cities to automated license plate readers has led many Bay area cities to cancel their contracts with the has led many Bay area cities to cancel their contracts with the surveillance company Flock cancel their contracts with the surveillance company Flock Safety. Others, though, are surveillance company Flock Safety. Others, though, are sticking with the cameras, Safety. Others, though, are sticking with the cameras, viewing them as a vital crime sticking with the cameras, viewing them as a vital crime fighting tool. Tonight, the viewing them as a vital crime fighting tool. Tonight, the Richmond City Council will fighting tool. Tonight, the Richmond City Council will discuss whether to renew their Richmond City Council will discuss whether to renew their agreement with flock. KTVU discuss whether to renew their agreement with flock. KTVU crime reporter Henry Lee is agreement with flock. KTVU crime reporter Henry Lee is live now from the Richmond crime reporter Henry Lee is live now from the Richmond Police Department, with the live now from the Richmond Police Department, with the details on the debate set to Police Department, with the details on the debate set to play out there tonight. Henry. details on the debate set to play out there tonight. Henry. Well, Richmond police took play out there tonight. Henry. Well, Richmond police took their flock cameras offline a Well, Richmond police took their flock cameras offline a few months ago amid this their flock cameras offline a few months ago amid this ongoing debate. And this few months ago amid this ongoing debate. And this council is being urged to bring ongoing debate. And this council is being urged to bring them back so they can help the council is being urged to bring them back so they can help the community. them back so they can help the community. Our businesses, our community. Our businesses, our customers and our neighbors Our businesses, our customers and our neighbors deserve to feel safe. customers and our neighbors deserve to feel safe. Richmond residents and deserve to feel safe. Richmond residents and merchants are now the latest Richmond residents and merchants are now the latest urging support for flock merchants are now the latest urging support for flock license plate cameras, even as urging support for flock license plate cameras, even as a growing number of cities are license plate cameras, even as a growing number of cities are ending their contracts with the a growing number of cities are ending their contracts with the company over data privacy ending their contracts with the company over data privacy concerns. company over data privacy concerns. If Richmond does not have concerns. If Richmond does not have these cameras and all the If Richmond does not have these cameras and all the nearby cities do, that creates these cameras and all the nearby cities do, that creates a lot of vulnerability for our nearby cities do, that creates a lot of vulnerability for our Richmond businesses. a lot of vulnerability for our Richmond businesses. Let me roll out a red carpet Richmond businesses. Let me roll out a red carpet for you. All you have to do is Let me roll out a red carpet for you. All you have to do is cross the street from El for you. All you have to do is cross the street from El Cerrito. Now you’re in Richmond cross the street from El Cerrito. Now you’re in Richmond and you’re free to do what you Cerrito. Now you’re in Richmond and you’re free to do what you want. and you’re free to do what you want. Richmond officials say they want. Richmond officials say they turn off the city’s cameras in Richmond officials say they turn off the city’s cameras in December as a precaution, after turn off the city’s cameras in December as a precaution, after learning from flock that December as a precaution, after learning from flock that outside agencies could have learning from flock that outside agencies could have access its license plate data. outside agencies could have access its license plate data. Now, the city says it’s access its license plate data. Now, the city says it’s confident that safeguards are Now, the city says it’s confident that safeguards are in place and is recommending to confident that safeguards are in place and is recommending to council members that its in place and is recommending to council members that its cameras be turned back on. council members that its cameras be turned back on. We want to again make sure cameras be turned back on. We want to again make sure that we’re being good stewards We want to again make sure that we’re being good stewards of this information and that we that we’re being good stewards of this information and that we are keeping those safeguards in of this information and that we are keeping those safeguards in place so that the information are keeping those safeguards in place so that the information isn’t being inadvertently place so that the information isn’t being inadvertently shared. isn’t being inadvertently shared. Says the cameras have been shared. Says the cameras have been turned off. We have had several Says the cameras have been turned off. We have had several crimes take a lot longer to get turned off. We have had several crimes take a lot longer to get resolved. crimes take a lot longer to get resolved. Richmond City Council Member resolved. Richmond City Council Member Cesar Zepeda said he believes Richmond City Council Member Cesar Zepeda said he believes privacy and public safety are Cesar Zepeda said he believes privacy and public safety are not mutually exclusive, and privacy and public safety are not mutually exclusive, and that it’s important to leverage not mutually exclusive, and that it’s important to leverage technology. that it’s important to leverage technology. We cannot be naive enough to technology. We cannot be naive enough to think that we’re not going to We cannot be naive enough to think that we’re not going to be recorded. I’m sure there’s think that we’re not going to be recorded. I’m sure there’s other cameras around recording be recorded. I’m sure there’s other cameras around recording us. It’s a thing that is other cameras around recording us. It’s a thing that is happening in this world. us. It’s a thing that is happening in this world. And recently, Mountain View, happening in this world. And recently, Mountain View, the city of Santa Cruz and And recently, Mountain View, the city of Santa Cruz and Santa Clara County ended their the city of Santa Cruz and Santa Clara County ended their contracts with flock. Oakland, Santa Clara County ended their contracts with flock. Oakland, El Cerrito and Mill Valley have contracts with flock. Oakland, El Cerrito and Mill Valley have flagged issues but are sticking El Cerrito and Mill Valley have flagged issues but are sticking with their cameras. Others are flagged issues but are sticking with their cameras. Others are still weighing the issue, with their cameras. Others are still weighing the issue, including Alameda County. still weighing the issue, including Alameda County. We’ve seen these data including Alameda County. We’ve seen these data sharing violations for years We’ve seen these data sharing violations for years now. It’s unbelievably sharing violations for years now. It’s unbelievably widespread. now. It’s unbelievably widespread. Privacy advocate Brian Hofer widespread. Privacy advocate Brian Hofer of Secure Justice says audits Privacy advocate Brian Hofer of Secure Justice says audits show Richmond police are among of Secure Justice says audits show Richmond police are among agencies that have illegally show Richmond police are among agencies that have illegally shared data. agencies that have illegally shared data. I think the privacy shared data. I think the privacy community is feeling very much I think the privacy community is feeling very much like a canary in the coal mine. community is feeling very much like a canary in the coal mine. As we’ve been discussing these like a canary in the coal mine. As we’ve been discussing these concerns, not just specific to As we’ve been discussing these concerns, not just specific to flock, but mass surveillance in concerns, not just specific to flock, but mass surveillance in general, building these flock, but mass surveillance in general, building these ecosystems. general, building these ecosystems. Saratoga mayor Chuck page ecosystems. Saratoga mayor Chuck page isn’t happy with Santa Clara Saratoga mayor Chuck page isn’t happy with Santa Clara County ending its contract with isn’t happy with Santa Clara County ending its contract with flock. The sheriff’s office County ending its contract with flock. The sheriff’s office patrols Saratoga and Cupertino. flock. The sheriff’s office patrols Saratoga and Cupertino. We’ve got over half $1 patrols Saratoga and Cupertino. We’ve got over half $1 million of resident of taxpayer We’ve got over half $1 million of resident of taxpayer money that may go to waste, and million of resident of taxpayer money that may go to waste, and that frustrates the living money that may go to waste, and that frustrates the living daylights out of me. that frustrates the living daylights out of me. In a statement to KTVU, daylights out of me. In a statement to KTVU, Flock Safety says there are In a statement to KTVU, Flock Safety says there are real consequences to turning Flock Safety says there are real consequences to turning off cameras, saying that real consequences to turning off cameras, saying that victims may wait longer or off cameras, saying that victims may wait longer or indefinitely for justice. They victims may wait longer or indefinitely for justice. They say the cities that have left indefinitely for justice. They say the cities that have left were misinformed, and that they say the cities that have left were misinformed, and that they are working with clients to were misinformed, and that they are working with clients to make sure that there are are working with clients to make sure that there are settings in place to guard make sure that there are settings in place to guard against data breaches. Live in settings in place to guard against data breaches. Live in Richmond Henry Lee KTVU, Fox