Emma Curtis says Flock cameras risk more harm than good

Lexington council member running for reelection in District 4

“I think we owe our residents a robust discussion about whether or not these cameras are still truly keeping us safe I believe based on all of the information that I have seen both prior and during my time in office, that Flock is not a corporation that acts in good faith or is worthy of our collective trust. I also believe that these cameras have far greater potential for collective harm than they did for collective good.”
Open source (opens in a new tab)Public debate intensifies over Flock cameras in LexingtonRemarks by council member Emma Curtis, middle of the article

Source and context

Reporting

Public debate intensifies over Flock cameras in Lexington (opens in a new tab)Remarks by council member Emma Curtis, middle of the article

About this source

Spectrum News 1 reported on public comment about Flock cameras at a late-August Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council meeting.

Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Before the quotation

At an Aug. 27 Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council meeting, several public commenters asked the city to end its agreement with Flock Safety. Spectrum News reported that Curtis was the only council member to address the cameras.

After the quotation

Curtis also said she does not believe the city's police department has misused the cameras. Spectrum News reported that Lexington's most recent Flock use audit found no improper searches by its officers.

How this statement is classified

Condemned

Case context: Should Flock-style license-plate surveillance networks exist?

The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.

Why this label?

The reference point is whether networked license-plate reader systems such as Flock should exist and be used. Curtis said Flock is not worthy of the public's trust and that the cameras have far greater potential for harm than good, a judgment against the cameras themselves rather than against misuse by local police. She asked for a public discussion instead of naming a specific step, which is the limit of this label.

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People and groups discussed
Flock Safety
A close view of a green Flock Safety automated license-plate reader mounted beside a street.
Credit: Bruxton

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