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Debate over Flock cameras reached Capitol Hill
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee members held a hearing on Flock Safety surveillance cameras following the wrongful arrest of a Florida woman. Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens called for increased oversight as police review internal searches.
WASHINGTON - Scrutiny of Atlanta-based Flock Safety went to Washington Wednesday.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill heard emotional testimony regarding the widespread use and potential abuse of the AI-powered license plate camera database and its competitors, but the CEOs were no-shows.
Capitol Hill surveillance hearing
What we know:
The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism discussed growing bipartisan criticism surrounding Flock Safety, an Atlanta-based company specializing in license plate recognition technology.
The company's CEO, Garrett Langley, did not appear at the hearing despite the invitation from lawmakers.
Flock Safety did not respond to FOX 5's request for an explanation Wednesday.
During Florida resident Lindsey Isaacs's testimony, she described spending 13 days locked up for a deadly hit-and-run crash she had nothing to do with.
Isaac explained that a Flock automated camera logged her Dodge Durango 2 to 3 miles west of the crash scene, leading to her wrongful arrest, despite no damage to it.
Unanswered questions from Flock
What we don't know:
It remains unclear how many law enforcement agencies nationwide are currently conducting internal investigations into potential system misuse, but several have cancelled their contracts with Flock altogether.
Lawmakers push for privacy
What they're saying:
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., criticized the database, adding that millions of innocent citizens have been scanned and recorded without due process.
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., raised alarms about personal safety, revealing that 20 law enforcement officers in Georgia have been arrested for misusing the technology.
"Georgians want to be safe in their communities," Warnock said during a virtual news conference before the hearing. "Yes, they want to be safe from crime, but they also want to be safe from stalking."
Local action in Georgia
Local perspective:
In Georgia, local leaders and students are taking action regarding how the surveillance tools are handled.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens proposed local legislation to govern camera usage while the Atlanta Police Department investigates 79 flagged internal search patterns.
Georgia state lawmakers also plan to come up with new regulations surrounding the AI cameras in their next legislative session.
At Kennesaw State University, computer science student Isaac Thoman is leading a movement to remove Flock cameras and audio systems from campus. Thoman, who bought a used Flock camera on eBay, demonstrated that pressing a rear button three times launches an open Wi-Fi hotspot.
Proposed changes to data
What's next:
Flock Safety previously maintained that its technology does far more good than harm by helping law enforcement locate missing persons and stolen vehicles.
The company recently pledged to reduce its data retention window, shortening the timeframe it holds scanned license plate records from 30 days down to seven days.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from FOX 5's Rob DiRienzo, who covered the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing from Atlanta, along with previous FOX 5 reporting.