Flock cameras in St. Petersburg and Sarasota were vandalized over the weekend, leaving both devices offline. The cameras, which are used for automated license plate reading, were damaged with gold spray paint in St. Petersburg and had their solar panel and camera damaged in Sarasota.
Surveillance Concerns
St. Pete Police Chief Anthony Holloway emphasized that the cameras are not intended to monitor people, but rather to monitor incidents that can help solve crimes. However, some residents, like 77-year-old Carl Gunn, are concerned about the widespread use of surveillance cameras.
Ashley Limardo, public information specialist for the St. Petersburg Police Department, noted that technology like Flock cameras can provide critical information to help solve crimes when used responsibly. Meanwhile, Harry Maugans, founder and CEO of cybersecurity company Privacy Bee, raised concerns about the potential for misuse of Flock cameras, citing the recent arrest of a Haines City police officer who allegedly used the system to track his estranged wife’s vehicle.
Investigation and Response
The incidents are being investigated as crimes, and there are currently no suspects. St. Petersburg police say Flock stores images and data for 30 days before deleting them. The damaged cameras are expected to be repaired by Flock.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
