Over 280 cities cancel Flock contracts

San Diego residents face a choice between keeping a controversial surveillance system or cutting ties with a vendor whose data practices have drawn national criticism. The debate centers on the city's contract with Flock, a provider of automatic license plate readers. Local officials are weighing whether to let the agreement expire or continue the partnership.

Beth Givens of Linda Vista argues the city should cancel the deal. She notes that more than 280 municipalities across the United States have already terminated their Flock agreements. According to the watchdog group DeFlock, the primary reason for these cancellations is unauthorized data sharing. Givens points to this trend as evidence that the technology lacks reliability.

The resident highlights the financial risk associated with the system. Individuals wrongfully jailed due to plate reader errors have secured large payouts in lawsuits elsewhere. These settlements can reach $1 million. Givens states that San Diego cannot afford such expenses. She also notes that at least one person in San Diego was wrongfully jailed because of a reader error.

Privacy concerns extend beyond simple data errors. Givens reports that police officers have used license plate readers to stalk ex-partners. While no such incidents have been reported in San Diego yet, she argues that technology-enabled stalking is a long-standing issue in local law enforcement. She contends that the system amounts to warrantless mass surveillance.

Critics of the cancellation push suggest the move is political. Givens responds to these letters by emphasizing the flaws in the technology. She points to an early data breach in San Diego where Flock data was shared with outside agencies. She maintains that existing guardrails are not foolproof. The council must now decide if the benefits of the system outweigh the risks of unauthorized data use and potential legal liabilities.