Fight Flock & Mass Surveillance
Steps You Can Take
To find the location of cameras and learn more about mass surveillance and Flock visit DeFlock’s website.
DeFlock UA has created a searchable database using the transparency portal released by Columbus PD and compiled these logs into a searchable database.
Find out if you have been searched:
How Flock Works
ALPR (Automated License Plate Readers) are more than just cameras, Flock is a connected system, using artificial intelligence to fingerprint vehicles and their movement. License plates,bumper stickers, personal identifiers, collected indiscriminately by a private company, using our tax dollars. Flock uses AI tech surveillance, gathering information on EVERYONE who passes by a camera. They own the data and the equipment, selling their services to police departments across the country. Information is stored and is accessible nationwide to law enforcement, government agencies, and others for search and investigation. An internal audit by the Columbus PD showed that the network was searched over 15,000 times for immigration related reasons. Flock does not deny the use of their technology by ICE and related agencies. Should we trust a private company to keep our data safe?
Local Action
City Council has signed a contract with Flock that ends this December. Tell the City Council our data is not for sale and that we value our right to privacy. Take action and request they end the contract and remove the cameras. Use the link below to contact members in a few short clicks.
https://act.commoncause.org/letters/tell-columbus-city-council-no-more-flock-cameras/
Safety, Not Surveillance
Surveillance is not making us safer. Data as reported by the FBI shows that there is no statistically significant increase in cases closed by police departments using Flock cameras. See the link below for more details.
https://futurism.com/future-society/flock-surveillance-atlanta-fbi-data-crime-case-solve
The system has been abused by law enforcement and Flock employees. Evidence of abuse has been reported locally and the transparency audit conducted by Columbus Police shows the system was used in cooperation with ICE during Operation Buckeye. Below you will find local and national news coverage of abuse.
Furthermore, mass surveillance is a violation of our 4th amendment rights.The Supreme Court agrees. See the article below for details.
There are 65 active CPD reported cameras. However, the watchdog organization DeFlock reports a much higher number. Private companies can also install Flock cameras that are connected to the larger system.
For more information on Flock in Columbus see the link below.