Flock Safety, whose surveillance cameras have faced mounting questions, announced Thursday a set of changes designed to improve privacy protections and reduce the likelihood of misuse.
The company said the updates emerge in response to concerns that have built over time about how the technology is used, according to Just The News.
Under the new approach, individual police departments will be able to limit information other law enforcement agencies can access. One possible arrangement would allow outside agencies to search for data on stolen vehicles while blocking them from examining records connected to immigration violations, as described in a New York Times report.
Flock is also changing how long the gathered material remains available. The standard period will drop from 30 days to one week. Local police departments will have the option to extend the time period if they decide it is necessary for an investigation.
Chad Marlow, who serves as senior policy counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union, called the steps “good in theory” when he spoke with the Times.
He went on to say the company appears to be treating privacy questions largely as a public relations concern. Other critics have taken a firmer line, arguing that only actual changes in legislation can place real limits on this form of surveillance technology.
At present, several thousand law enforcement agencies rely on Flock’s system. That system includes about 120,000 cameras placed in communities across the country. The devices scan license plates as cars drive past and can monitor potential criminal activity.
Reports of improper access, along with broader unease about the monitoring of ordinary drivers, have led to protests in multiple locations. Some cities have already moved to end their contracts with the company as a result.
The announcement arrives while public discussion of the cameras remains active.
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