Written by: Karen Friedman on behalf of We ARE the People
Milpitas PD uses Flock Safety cameras (Automatic License Plate Recognition or ALPR) for criminal investigation. They are helpful tools. Although we value and support our local police department, these ALPR cameras violate our 4th amendment right against unreasonable searches. As we drive by, our vehicle and license plate is photographed and time/date/location stamped automatically without our knowledge or permission.
There are numerous stories about rogue cops using Flock cameras to track and harass former partners and women seeking reproductive medical care being tracked. These are serious abuses. In addition, in other cities cops have been sharing immigrant-related data with ICE and CBP.
We trust our police department has adequate safeguards in place to protect the data obtained from the ALPR cameras at this time. We DO NOT however, hold the same trust in the integrity and good will of Flock Safety or in the wannabe authoritarian Trump administration.
Flock has not been honest about working with federal agencies. After initial denials, the company admitted it had engaged in a pilot program of surveillance with US Customs and Border Protection in 2025. In addition, Kash Patel’s FBI issued a “Statement of Work” in May of this year looking to contract with companies to build a nationwide surveillance network. Flock, being the largest, is first in line to be awarded this contract.
Please note: the Chinese Communist Party does not allow dissent toward its government. As of late 2023 in China there are between 600 and 700 million cameras…one camera for every two persons. With AI-powered surveillance and facial recognition software, the CCP can track and locate any individual in a matter of minutes. (1.5 billion persons)
Flock Safety’s business plan is to be part of a nationwide network of surveillance cameras, which along with accompanying AI-enabled software could soon match China’s fearsome capabilities. That is what we want to stop.
We value our freedoms of privacy and free expression. We do not want a country where this mechanism of control could be significant part of an authoritarian culture of fear and repression.
Numerous cities and police departments all over the country are waking up to this imminent possibility and are cancelling their contracts with Flock. Locally, Mt View Police cancelled after it learned Flock had enabled a nationwide search feature in MVPD’s cameras without the departments’ knowledge or permission. Other South Bay cities have done the same.
Our ask if for the Milpitas City Council to take a courageous stand and say NO! to the use of Flock cameras in our city by cancelling the current Flock contract and to work with our police department to find a more trustworthy vendor.
If this issue is of concern to you, we ask two things. 1) Make your concerns known to the Milpitas City Council. 2) Join us to say NO TO FLOCK this Saturday, September 5, at 3:00 PM for a peaceful, joyful demonstration for 60-90 minutes on the sidewalk in front of Milpitas City Hall, 455 E. Calaveras Blvd at N. Milpitas Blvd. Create your own sign or just come, we’ll have a few extras.
Important Note: We heartily embrace the practice of non-violence. We are law abiding and DO NOT support any unlawful behavior such as damaging or removing ALPR cameras.
“We ARE the People” – Milpitas – a grassroots group of concerned residents
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