What's at stake for businesses who use Flock cameras too?
Flock Safety installs more cameras by the day – their AI powered camera readers scan hundreds of vehicles in only seconds, processing everything there is to know about your customers’ vehicles, their owners, and any legal issues stored to a database.
Businesses that hold contracts with Flock could lose out on consumers who are worried over privacy rights.
The surveillance company that stresses safety and success has raised numerous outcries from citizens all over the U.S., including candidates for elected office. Flock has grown to now over 120,000 cameras installed in 49 states, ranging from highways, to city streets, to parking lots. With complaints and worries of mass surveillance and data abuse, parties from both sides are speaking out about the usage of these cameras. “Within six seconds, a Flock camera can take 6 to 12 snapshots of your license plate” says CS Monitor, allowing the data of your vehicle to be stored in a large database that can be shared among other law enforcement agencies. They’re at the center of how law enforcement may decide to use them - where they can dive into more than just an owner’s vehicle information but one’s personal whereabouts too. And according to ACLU, at least 50 officers in law enforcement were investigated for abusing this technology, tracking individuals’ routines, including their private addresses and the healthcare clinics they visit.
Sources have also cited how strict these cameras can be. For example, they are writing tickets for vehicles that were only a few miles over the posted speed limit (very easy to do).
Private businesses are also using Flock cameras as a protective measure for their own employees or their clients’ environments too. But, Bloomberry shows that 82% of companies using Flock Cameras are for Government Administration, while 10% are Law Enforcement. With the growing concern over privacy rights - businesses that hold contracts with Flock could lose out on consumers who are worried. TikTok influencer Rachel LaPointe slammed Ulta beauty for having a contract with Flock and using the surveillance systems in their parking lots; many shoppers backed her up, stating they don’t need to be stared at or stalked within the store’s premises (i.e. while they are just sitting, waiting in the store’s parking lot).
Shoppers have expressed that surveillance systems should be for a company’s protection from outside crime instead of tracking individuals. Just like with the growing use of AI everywhere - we will of course stay on this Flock story and how businesses will have to navigate this thorny privacy issue.
As always, our team at SpaceBound Solutions remains focused on privacy - plus, the safe installation of the latest technology that benefits and protects your business. To learn more, visit our section on: Physical Security | Enhance Your IT Security Today — SpaceBound for all of our Physical Security solutions that can protect your organization’s facilities.
Flock surveillance cameras have become a midterm campaign target | AP News
Flock cameras: How a police tool sparked a surveillance revolt in the US - CSMonitor.com
Flock Safety Faces Backlash; Ulta, Lowe's Under Pressure - Business Insider
