ATLANTA — The ACLU of Georgia issues the following statement in response to the Atlanta City Council considering the renewal of the City's contract with Flock Safety for automatic license plate readers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport:
"Flock’s automatic license plate readers have been used to identify and track immigrants, people seeking abortion care, protesters and others exercising their constitutional rights. Even if Atlanta does not intend to use the technology to aid the Trump administration's lawless actions, once sensitive information is collected and entered into a database, it can be accessed and shared by outside law enforcement agencies in ways that Atlantans and elected officials never approved,” said Christopher Bruce, deputy executive director, ACLU of Georgia. “In the past year, nearly 60 local governments across the country have canceled or declined to renew contracts with Flock Safety. Atlanta should be in that number."
The concerns about Flock cameras highlight the need for stronger oversight of surveillance technologies in Atlanta. Decisions involving technology that tracks, collects and shares sensitive data about community members should include public input. More than 26 cities across the country have adopted Community Control Over Police Surveillance laws to ensure transparency before approving or expanding surveillance technologies. Atlanta must pass a CCOPS law.
The ACLU of Georgia urges the Atlanta City Council to vote no on renewing its contract with Flock Safety.
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