Fort Bragg Police Department says its Flock cameras keep people's privacy intact - Local News Matters

The Fort Bragg Police Department has launched an online portal aimed at providing residents with transparency regarding the usage of its Flock camera system, which detects license plate information while safeguarding privacy. Interim Police Chief Eric Swift reassured the community that the cameras do not capture personal identifiers, such as faces, gender, or race, to mitigate fears of misuse. The city implemented Flock cameras in July 2023, primarily to aid in investigations involving stolen vehicles, kidnappings, and other crimes. Swift explained that the collected data remains confidential, not shared with federal agencies for immigration enforcement, and is purged after 30 days. This initiative responds to growing public concern over surveillance technologies and their potential impact on undocumented individuals.

Recently, a similar proposal in Oakland faced opposition from activists worried about privacy violations. Swift emphasized that the portal aims to build trust and accountability between the police and the community. The system allows for rapid alerts regarding stolen vehicles, enhancing law enforcement's ability to respond effectively to crimes.