Lawsuit alleges Flock cameras violate Californians' privacy

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.