Decatur weighs Flock camera use amid privacy concerns

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Courtesy of City of Decatur

DECATUR, Ga. - Decatur city leaders are examining the community's use of Flock license plate reader cameras as questions continue over privacy and potential misuse of the surveillance technology.

What we know:

The Decatur City Commission held a work session Monday night to discuss the cameras, which have become a contentious issue in communities across Georgia.

Police officials say Flock cameras are critical to crime-fighting efforts. The technology can capture information about vehicles and help investigators identify and track vehicles connected to crimes.

However, residents and privacy advocates have raised concerns about how the technology is used and who can access the information it collects.

Those concerns have intensified amid reports of law enforcement officers abusing access to Flock systems. Dozens of officers across Georgia, along with others nationwide, have been accused of improperly using the technology, including allegations that officers used it to track romantic partners.

The debate leaves Decatur officials weighing the potential public safety benefits of the cameras against concerns about privacy, oversight and safeguards designed to prevent misuse.

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