Alameda County delays vote on Flock license plate reader contract amid privacy concerns

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Alameda County supervisors are delaying a decision on whether to renew a one-year contract with Flock Safety, the company behind automated license plate reader cameras used by local law enforcement.

The proposed extension would cost $854,200, up from the current $550,600 contract that expires at the end of June.

But after hours of public comment Tuesday, supervisors opted to push the decision to April 21, citing unresolved questions about data privacy and government access to surveillance information.

Public safety advocates rallied outside the meeting, urging county leaders to keep the system in place.

Brenda Grisham with the Oakland Alliance for Public Safety argued the cameras have become essential at a time when departments are struggling with police staffing shortages.

"If we don't have enough bodies, then we need technology to fill in the gaps," Grisham said.

MORE: SF and Oakland police illegally shared license plate data with federal agencies: report

Inside the board meeting, opponents pushed back, accusing the company of contributing to oversurveillance in communities of color and expressing distrust of how data is stored and shared.

"Flock is just terrible," said Oakland resident Gianna Ruggiero. "Please do not fund tech billionaires. Support our city."

Supervisors acknowledged the competing concerns - including fears that, despite state law, data could be accessed by the Trump administration to conduct immigration enforcement.

"It's really important to recognize that under this particular administration there are things happening that are not normal things, including potential for surveillance," said Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas.

California law prohibits publicly funded license plate reader data from being shared with the federal government, including immigration enforcement agencies.

In a January statement, Flock reiterated that it does not work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or any other DHS subagencies, saying all data "is owned and controlled by the customer," whether a public or private organization.

MORE: Bay Area license plate reader leads to arrest of suspect possibly posing as federal agent

The company added that any federal access would require explicit permission from a local agency and must comply with state and federal law.

The Alameda County Sheriff's Office credits Flock systems with helping arrest violent offenders and recover stolen vehicles. Supporters argue those successes outweigh concerns about data misuse.

"Nothing is going to be perfect, but we have to use the tools that we have," Grisham said.

"Show me where a deportation was because of Flock cameras," said Edward Escobar, founder of the Coalition for Community Engagement. "Prove that to me, because all of this is speculative."

With no consensus Tuesday, supervisors agreed they needed more time to review the contract terms and the county's oversight of the technology.

The issue will return to the board on April 21, when supervisors are expected to reconsider the contract.

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