DeflockBCSCollege Station City Council
Mayor
- At the Sept. 24 council vote
The problem is the vendor's open architecture, their initial lack of concern for privacy in its initial design, and the company itself. Flock collects too much, it shares with too many, it uses inflexible contract language and marketing doublespeak.
They're probably not going to survive the legal expenses alone with the lawsuits that they have. They're undergoing layoffs, according to The Wall Street Journal. They've got targeted legislation that uniquely goes after their software architecture. They're hemorrhaging clients all over the country…
WTAW 1620 interview · before the voteI was the first on council to identify the problematic contract provisions in the Flock contract. Basically, what Flock does is it's akin to me saying, ‘I have an empty lot next to my house and I'm going to sell it to you… you own it, but I retain the ability to do anything I want…’ So, technically, you own it, but do you really? Flock does the same thing with data.
But then on the other side, it does so much good. It has literally saved abducted children, collared bad guys.
Axon offers a product that significantly constrains and silos the data within the community that they serve… whereas Flock is just kind of this wide open, AI-powered, looking for a guy in a red shirt.
- WTAW 1620 interview
I would like a voter accountable person watching if we decide to continue Flock.
Flock cameras, I think, are going to have to be legislated at the state level because when you're talking about data sharing, you're crossing county lines and at that point, it's better to have the state weigh in.
I'm glad that Flock has made some changes… but I also want government oversight. Like, that's so important.
I also want some local audit that is voter accountable… I want the mayors or the council members to be able to go in and look at those audits… and make sure what we're doing with our data and exactly how it's being handled and who's using it… Don't just tell me that Flock's going to watch itself.
Place 1
- At the Sept. 24 council vote
Flock Safety is a valuable tool for the police department, but the lack of public trust is a serious concern.
Based on the information that I am hearing today, I'm going to vote against keeping the Flock camera. I also want to do that while we work towards clear, enforceable guardrails.
We can not have it while we solve these problems.
WTAW 1620 interview · day of the voteI will vote to not extend the contract… I think that the privacy concerns have not been adequately addressed and that's really a real problem.
With Flock or another brand, if that database is in the cloud, it is more vulnerable.
- WTAW 1620 interview
I would have voted to keep it for a year, but we need to seriously, seriously look at: is Flock the right program to be involved with?
ALPRs have been around for a long, long time, and they definitely have their benefits.
There's some other programs out there that we really need to take a hard look at. And just because we keep it for a year doesn't mean we're keeping it permanently.
- WTAW 1620 interview
I'm not against Flock cameras. I'm just against this 30 days, less guardrails. I think all the audits and everything should be completely transparent.
Flock came out on August 13th with a recommendation that said your data storage shouldn't be 30 days. It should be seven… And my question was, why haven't we opted into it?
This is a system that is obviously assisting our officers. We just need to look at the guardrails and the guidelines.
There should be just like a page on the city website that you can always go and look… We have a right to know how our data is being stored and who's accessing it.
Place 2
- WTAW 1620 interview
The straight answer is I think if there was no alternative, I would have left Flock on.
I did speak in front of council about it, in favor of Flock.
Do I like being looked at everywhere I go? No. But the other number that I'm concerned with is the number one, which is one victim, one crime solved, one crime not committed.
It's a black and white issue to too many people. There's no middle ground at all… I think there's more room for discussion and I think we need to hear from both sides.
- WTAW 1620 interview
Asked: “If you'd been on council this week, would you have voted to renew the contract or not renew the contract?”
I'd probably say no… I would have to have evidence really showing me that there's going to be safeguards… So, I would say no.
I'm for and against it… If you're going to use it, there needs to be safeguards.
I just don't like it when it comes to invading people's privacy.
Place 5 · Unexpired Term
- WTAW 1620 interview
I believe that we do need LPRs, not [Flock] cameras. We do need LPRs at the entrances of our cities and major intersection points.
I feel like LPRs… can be a very useful tool, but I don't feel like Flock and [Axon], all those cameras, should be everywhere.
I believe we should have a citizen oversight committee for the police department and they don't agree. And so I don't understand why they should need any extra oversight over citizens if they don't want to give us oversight over them.
I want to know who we were working with before Flock came around and to see how the community would feel if we went back that way.
- WTAW 1620 interview
I do not think the city needs to renew the contracts with Flock cameras. That is not a position to where it's not a no never. It's just a no, not right now.
This business segment, it needs to be regulated.
It is getting litigated out to figure out… can these automatic license plate reader cameras… be used in a way that doesn't violate everybody's Fourth Amendment constitutional rights… So that's why I say no, not right now, and yes if regulated right.
- WTAW 1620 interview
I understand that they're a phenomenal tool for law enforcement and… I trust CSPD and their job, but when you have millions of searches going on in the state of Texas and our cameras being a part of that and having article after article about misuse of the system, that should be concerning.
For us to be [flippant] and giving them up for these cameras, it feels dishonest and unfair to the guys who've laid their life down to protect those freedoms.
These cameras, from everything I've done and all the homework I've researched, have every ability to turn into a similar style camera that we see that the CCP uses for social credit scores… I don't want a pathway to be created in the slightest to get to that.
It's more like, well, you're guilty until proven innocent. And I'm just not comfortable with that.
Bryan City Council
Candidate stances coming soon.
Brazos County
Candidate stances coming soon.
State of Texas
Candidate stances coming soon.