Ramaswamy warns of a surveillance state while opposing a Flock camera ban
Republican nominee for Ohio governor
“I do not want to see an authoritarian surveillance state that ultimately threatens what this country was built on, which was our freedom on the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence. We remember that all men are created equal, endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, among these life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and if the government is able to, and does, map out every movement you make, we're ultimately living, eventually, it's not there now, but eventually, you skate to where the puck is going, it's not hard to imagine a Chinese-style surveillance state”
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
WKRC Local 12 report, syndicated on Dayton 24/7 Now, on how Ohio's candidates for governor and state officials view Flock cameras.
Before the quotation
WKRC reported that Democratic nominee Amy Acton had called on social media for a statewide ban on Flock cameras in Ohio.
After the quotation
WKRC reported that Ramaswamy disagrees with a ban but says Flock cameras should not be used in private spaces and that misuse of the system has to be taken seriously.
How this statement is classified
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. Ramaswamy warns that government mapping of every movement could lead to a surveillance state, but says the country is not there now, and WKRC reports that he disagrees with a statewide ban while opposing use in private spaces. His concern is conditional and paired with rejection of a ban, so Mixed or conditional fits better than Condemned.
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- People and groups discussed
- Flock Safety
Should Flock-style license-plate surveillance networks exist?
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
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