The Observer: Sheriff’s Office Keeps Lock On Flock Camera Use

Of the more than 6,400 law enforcement agencies nationwide that use Flock Safety’s controversial automated license plate readers, fewer than 900 operate a public transparency portal, and only about 530 disclose which outside agencies they share data with, according to the watchdog umbrella agency DeFlock.org.

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office is among those without a Flock transparency portal.

The Sheriff’s Office maintains a general transparency web page, but not the Flock-specific portal that would allow residents to independently see its complete list of data-sharing partners. Some connections can be inferred through portals maintained by other agencies, but Sacramento County residents cannot see the full picture of who can access the Sheriff’s license plate data — including their personal information.

Flock Safety is controversial because its network of over 120,000 automated license plate reader cameras nationwide enables mass tracking, privacy invasions, and potential data abuse by law enforcement.

Senate Bill 1013, introduced by Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, D Riverside, sought stronger privacy protections and restrictions on ALPR use. It cleared the Senate but was stopped in the Assembly before receiving a final floor vote, according to CalMatters.

For the full story, click here: Flock Camera Secrecy Raises Questions in Sacramento