Santa Barbara is planning to de-Flock the city, following the lead of other cities across the United States concerned about privacy issues.
However, new license plate readers could replace the Flock cameras.
The City Council on Tuesday will consider not renewing its contract with the Flock Safety camera system and switching to Verkada’s license plate reader platform, a move staff say could better protect personal data and prevent information sharing across multiple police agencies.
The city’s current contract with Flock ends Sunday, according to the staff report.
Verkada’s license plate reader platform, like Flock, captures license plate images and vehicle characteristics.
While Flock allows data to be shared across multiple agencies, Verkada is a cloud-managed platform where footage stays within the control of a single organization.
Verkada is more commonly used by private businesses, property managers and schools, according to the company’s website.
If the city switches to Verkada, the Santa Barbara Police Department will have exclusive control over system configurations, system administration and user permissions.
The data would be retained for 30 days and then “purged” unless it’s believed that it could be used as evidence in a criminal or civil case, or otherwise required by law, according to the city staff report.
Data would be released only “as authorized by department policy and applicable California law,” the staff report states.
Santa Barbara police say they have used 12 Flock automated license plate recognition cameras, known as ALPRs, since late 2023 to locate stolen cars, identify suspect vehicles and enhance public safety.
Removing the Flock cameras is expected to cost the city $6,000.
Purchasing Verkada cameras and licenses to use for five years is expected to cost $56,810, which can be covered by the current Police Department budget, according to the city staff report.
Privacy activists around the country this year have called for the removal of Flock cameras, which provide one of the most widely used automated license plate reader systems. More than 120,000 cameras are set up on roads across the country.
Some people have argued that in the wrong hands, the technology could be used to track private citizens who have not committed crimes.
The Washington Post reported earlier this month that at least 50 law enforcement officers were charged or accused of misusing the platform. In some cases, officers used it to stalk former romantic partners.
In Texas, which bans nearly all abortions, a police officer used Flock to look for a woman who had an abortion across state lines.
Law enforcement agencies also have illegally shared license plate reader data with immigration officials. California law enforcement agencies are not allowed to share license plate data with federal or out-of-state agencies under a 2015 law, Senate Bill 34.
Some law enforcement officials have defended the technology, saying they use it as a tool to help track violent crime suspects.
Flock said earlier this month it would make changes to prevent misuse, The New York Times reported.
In California, the cities of Los Angeles, Bishop, El Cerrito, Mountain View, Oxnard, Los Altos Hills, Santa Cruz, Richmond and Eureka have either canceled contracts or deactivated cameras, according to DeFlock, an anti-Flock advocacy group.
SBResiste, 805UndocuFund and other local immigration activist groups called the city’s decision to end its Flock contract a “win for the people” of Santa Barbara, but they argued that “no surveillance is safe,” citing Verkada by name.
Other cities in Santa Barbara County have Flock cameras, per maps from volunteer-run deFlock, including the cities of Lompoc and Santa Maria.
The City Council meeting is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. Public comments can be sent to clerk@santabarbaraca.gov or made in person at City Hall, 735 Anacapa St.
