A call for legislative action on Flock safety cameras. State Representative Calvin Callahan is calling for a ban on unchecked use of Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras by government agencies.
“I have heard a lot from my constituents that they have real privacy concerns.” The Tomahawk Republican Chairs the Assembly Committee on Consumer Protection and intends to hold a hearing on surveillance cameras when the Legislature returns in January.
“I know there’s case law out there that says that these things are not unconstitutional. So we can’t go down that road. But I think at the end of the day, if the constituents feel like their privacy is being overlooked, I mean, that’s something that I have a problem with. And we’ve got to take appropriate action.”
Callahan says some sheriffs he’s spoken to want the cameras gone, while others see the need for the legislature to step in. “They have no problem coming to the table and talking about legislative ideas that put regulation in place to keep people safe, their privacy safe, but also ensure that resource is still available to them to help solve crime that needs to be solved.”
Over 2,000 Flock and similar automated cameras have been deployed by local law enforcement agencies, with many communities now dropping or scaling back amid concerns over data privacy, vendor trust, and surveillance.
State Representative Calvin Callahan is calling for lawmakers to act on unchecked use of Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras by government agencies in Wisconsin. The Tomahawk Republican says some sheriffs want the cameras gone, while others see the need for the legislature to step in
[wrnflocklegislaiton3] :16 . . . action.
((“They have no problem coming to the table and talking about legislative ideas that put regulation in place to keep people safe, their privacy safe, but also ensure that resource is still available to them to help solve crime that needs to be solved.”))
Callahan Chairs the Assembly Committee on Consumer Protection and intends to hold a hearing on surveillance cameras when the Legislature returns in January. Many local governments have dropped or scaled back Flock contracts amid public concerns over data privacy and surveillance.