From drones to video cameras, Berkeley police ask for more Flock surveillance tools

"The Berkeley Police Department has asked for what could amount to a $2 million surveillance suite with the controversial tech vendor Flock Safety. The company has faced scrutiny amid reports that law enforcement officers elsewhere have used data from its hardware to investigate people who've had abortions, monitor protesters and locate undocumented immigrants for deportation."

"All told, the proposal would nearly triple the city's annual maximum commitment to Flock for at least the first year, from $212,500 to $567,500. BPD is hoping for three new drones running Flock software; a new 16-camera fixed-surveillance network run by Flock; centralized software to sync Flock hardware with other systems; a renewal on the city's extant network of 52 Flock automated license plate readers."

"Some cities have canceled their use of Flock over these and other concerns, occasionally stating outright that the company misled them. BPD wants to install the new fixed-surveillance video camera network in commercial districts, mostly in northwest, southeast and downtown Berkeley."

Berkeley Police Department proposed a major surveillance expansion involving Flock Safety technology, potentially costing $2 million and nearly tripling the city's annual commitment from $212,500 to $567,500. The proposal includes three drones with Flock software, a 16-camera fixed-surveillance network, centralized software integration, renewal of 52 existing automated license plate readers, and access to private cameras. Flock Safety has faced significant scrutiny after reports revealed law enforcement agencies used its data to investigate people who obtained abortions, monitor protesters, and locate undocumented immigrants for deportation. Several cities have canceled their Flock contracts, with some claiming the company misled them. The proposed fixed-surveillance cameras would be installed in commercial districts across northwest, southeast, and downtown Berkeley, with one drone capable of reaching any city location within minutes.

Read at www.berkeleyside.org