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
To connect with us or for more info: Join us
But the mayor has shown strong support for Flock cameras and is seeking re-election (see ktvu article from earlier this year). Will this be covered in any upcoming articles?
People complying with the law have nothing to fear from Flock cameras. They’re an important tool of law enforcement. What are the statistics of reduced speed, accidents and injuries prevented by these cameras? What’s the problem with law enforcement using them them to track and catch criminals? How many have they caught utilizing these cameras?
To say it violates out 4th amendment is ridiculous. This is not “unreasonable”. “As we drive by, our vehicle and license plate is photographed and time/date/location stamped automatically without our knowledge or permission.” Toll booths do the same thing. Speed cameras. Red light runners. Going to stop them too? This is just another tool of law enforcement similar to the plate readers they’ve been using in their cars forever. Cameras are everywhere. What makes you think they aren’t being used to watch and track you? These are just another pair of eyes for law enforcement. It’s Flock cameras or hire more cops. Same thing but cameras are cheaper and work 24/7/365.
“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.” Any technology can be abused, and just because you eliminate Flock won’t eliminate the issue. Wasn’t this happening before the cameras? Does the risk outweigh the number of injuries reduced and increase in apprehension of criminals? Sharing criminal data is always shared with other law enforcement agencies, not just from the cameras. Besides, don’t ICE and CPB apprehend criminals using this info? That’s what we voted for. And there’s no requirement for them to inform the public when changes are made.
“CCP can track and locate any individual in a matter of minutes.” Isn’t that what we want and why we have the missing person’s alert system in CA? We want to identify people quickly. Find the kidnapper through the license plate resters? Isn’t finding one missing child more important than someone’s perceive invasion of privacy or paranoia about what “they” might do with the information?
Quit fighting for the criminals and start supporting law enforcement. This crisis du jour is another leftist knee jerk reaction to Trump wanting to enforce the laws. Don’t be duped by those abusing the meaning of the constitution to give criminals a break. Keep the Flocks.