Editor’s note: The following is a letter to the editor. The opinions expressed in this letter are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect those of The Mendocino Voice. If you would like to submit a letter to the editor feel free to write to info@mendovoice.com.Â
Dear Editor,
Everyone local should know about the AI surveillance cameras that have been installed in Fort Bragg, Ukiah, Willits, all over. Â
They are called Flock cameras, and they present a grave threat to public safety and privacy. They line our roads and capture images of every single vehicle that passes. Their database holds a history of all of our travels. They can track us in real time. They circumvent warrant laws. Â
FBPD shares all of the data collected with many other agencies in California. It’s documented that law enforcement agencies have illegally provided access to Flock data to ICE. Humboldt County Sheriffs have been caught doing this. They have access to Fort Bragg data right now, and probably data from other cities too.
Let me reiterate: agencies and officers that have previously illegally shared data with ICE have access to this data today. ICE will use this data.
Others have said no to Flock; Austin, Texas and Sedona, Arizona cancelled their contracts, many others too. Eureka’s City Councils rejected installing them.
We can reject dragnet mass surveillance. It is within our power to stop this, and our responsibility to do so. These cameras must come down! Research it! Speak up!
Amy H.
Mendocino County
When police initiate high speed chases through busy downtown streets because Flock alerts them to a stolen vehicle, public safety is actually threatened by the police themselves. See the example of this summer in Fort Bragg when the car being pursued flipped over onto the sidewalk. It was only sheer luck that no pedestrians were hurt or killed. Do we have any guarantees that the departments using Flock aren’t just going through the data to look at whatever they want to see? Can an officer look up the driving habits of the teenagers who give rides to their kids? Can they look to see where their neighbors wife goes when she leaves the house? Are there any limits placed on who can do a search and for what reasons? Are the searches logged permanently? When secret powers are granted to anyone, especially those in positions of authority, there is danger of misuse of that power and authority. All records of all agreements and range of powers should be publicly available.
Good day citizen.
We are sorry to inform you that this comment is too controversial. Your social credit score is now -17 due to this comment and several social media posts. The police department is now tracking your habits and has questions about your regular 1:30am travel route on Noyo Bridge. Report immediately to the Police Department for questioning and finger printing, and register on our website to proceed with your payment plan of $250 per month for 36 months to reverse this score. Late night curfew passes are only available to people with scores of +15 or higher. If you do not comply we will be reporting you to CPS and take your children.
Have a nice day!
-Your friendly neighborhood overseer.
Imagine what you could do with this power. If I was a creepy stalker, I would immediately sign up for police academy after seeing that it would let me access this technology.
Ukiah has been doling out settlements for their pervert rapist cops:
https://www.sfgate.com/northcoast/article/northern-california-cop-misconduct-20297043.php
This Flock camera technology has been used by police to stalk women:
https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article291059560.html
Technology, properly-implemented, can cut both ways & level the playing field.
The user interfaces for FLOCK & similar databases should require the following:
1. The workstation where FLOCK searches can be done requires biometric authentication (fingerprint) + a keycard or RFID badge, for each person who has the ability to make searches.
2. The date/timestamps of all searches, combined with who made them, should be permanently logged in the system.
In combination, those 2 steps would go a long way toward reducing abuse by leaving a solid “paper trail” and making it a lot simpler to hold people accountable for improper use.
Hear me out, I know this is controversial. What if the Police needed a warrant before tracking somebody? As outlined in the 4th Amendment of the constitution of the United States of America.
“Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel.” Founding Father Patrick Henry
“Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Founding Father Benjamin Franklin
“Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.” Founding Father John Adams
I fully agree with Ben’s Incredulous Ghost… it’s absolutely the truth…
Thank you Patrick Henry…..