In Columbus, activists are pushing the city to join other Ohio cities in cutting ties with Flock Safety, a company that provides automated license plate readers (ALPRs). The concern is that the data collected by Flock could be used by entities such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), potentially targeting illegal immigrants and other groups.

Local Angle

The issue has gained attention in Columbus after other Ohio cities, including Cleveland and Dayton, took action against Flock. Cleveland’s City Council Safety Committee voted against extending the city’s $250,000 Flock contract, while Dayton suspended the use of ALPRs pending an internal review.

In Columbus, City Council member Emmanuel Remy said the council has asked the Department of Public Safety to conduct an audit to see what information has been taken by other agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. The results are still pending.

Surveillance Concerns

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio has expressed concerns about the use of surveillance technologies like Flock’s ALPRs. Gary Daniels of the ACLU of Ohio said the technology continues to be implemented with little control, and the organization is advocating for more regulations on its use.

A survey found that a majority of Americans (54%) believe AI-powered mass surveillance violates individual liberty and civil liberties. The ACLU estimates that over 90,000 Flock cameras are currently in use across the United States.

In Columbus, the People’s Justice Project has launched a public campaign to collect signatures for petitions aimed at getting the city and Ohio State University to cut ties with Flock.

Original reporting: Matter News (Columbus) — read the source article.