The City of Santa Cruz led the nation in 2020 by restricting facial recognition technology, yet new artificial intelligence tools are quietly expanding the reach of surveillance, writes civil libertarian Steve Pleich. Before these systems become commonplace, he believes local cities and the county board of supervisors should establish clear rules that continue to protect both public safety and civil liberties. He insists privacy should not disappear simply because technology evolves.
Flock Safety cameras
Lookout news and Community Voices opinion coverage of Flock Safety automated license plate readers in Santa Cruz County.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Capitola automatically renews contract with Flock; anti-surveillance organizers see ‘long road ahead’
Capitola’s contract with Flock Safety for automated license-plate readers in the city will continue for another 24 months. Meanwhile, members of grassroots group Get The Flock Out say they’ll continue to let police and elected officials in Capitola and Watsonville, which also has a deal with Flock, know about their concerns with the Atlanta-based company.
Posted inLatest News
Watsonville’s new police chief shares his views on ICE and Flock cameras, says he’s ready to learn and engage with the community
Brian Shab, a 27-year veteran police officer, spoke to Lookout about stepping into a new role as Watsonville’s 17th police chief and his goals for the department during his tenure.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Capitola, Watsonville intend to keep Flock cameras following Santa Cruz’s exit
While the City of Santa Cruz has canceled its contract with Flock Safety, Capitola and Watsonville expect to keep working with the company.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
What to know about Flock Safety’s automated license plate readers across Santa Cruz County
Here’s Lookout’s reporting so far on Santa Cruz’s Flock exit and why Scotts Valley and the county sheriff’s office have held off on automated license plate readers.
Posted inLatest News
City council votes to end Santa Cruz’s contract with Flock Safety
The Santa Cruz City Council voted 6-1 to end the city’s contract with Flock Safety at its Tuesday meeting following data breaches, community pushback, and a recommendation from three councilmembers that the city pull out of the contract.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Mass surveillance is not public safety – Santa Cruz must cancel its Flock contract
Mass surveillance cameras operated by the private company Flock Safety are spreading across Santa Cruz County, putting residents’ privacy, safety and constitutional rights at risk, warns a group of activists working to get the cameras removed.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz City Council to consider ending Flock Safety contract at Tuesday meeting
The Santa Cruz City Council will weigh pulling out of its contract with Flock Safety at its Tuesday meeting after several recent data breaches and sustained community pushback about the use of the company’s automatic license plate readers.
Posted inLatest News
Police arrest two suspects in October Beach Flats Park shooting
The Santa Cruz Police Department has arrested two suspects in connection with an October shooting near Beach Flats Park in Santa Cruz.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Anti-Flock group finds that state agencies accessed SCPD camera data thousands of times on feds’ behalf since mid-2024
Numerous California law enforcement agencies searched the Santa Cruz Police Department’s Flock camera data thousands of times in the past 18 months on behalf of federal immigration agencies, according to data compiled by grassroots coalition Get The Flock Out.
