Pflugerville weighs decision on controversial Flock cameras

This is not simply about cameras. It is about privacy is about government surveillance, accountability and the kind of community we want Pflugerville to be. Pflugerville neighbors speaking out and it's in response to the city's relationship with flock cameras. While I understand the importance of public safety, I also believe safety includes protecting our privacy. On Tuesday, the city considering a new contract with the license plate readers that will keep them in Pflugerville for another two years at a price tag set at $175,000 that vote would be pushed back. I understand some council members have undertaken uh additional negotiation positions with uh with the provider. So I do not believe we are in a position to act upon this item tonight. One of those council members is Jonathan Kaufman. He says that privacy concerns were one of the main reasons the vote was delayed this time. We really saw an opportunity to try to make it less risky for both the city as well as our residents. The decision comes as a growing number of cities across the country have cut ties with flock over fears of mass surveillance and abuse by police officers. Since 2022, Pflugerville PD has used 28 flock cameras across the city and the new contract Kaufman's fears and how that data is being used by Pflugerville PD but by outside actors. The contract says that the city owns its city data but then flock later in the contract takes ownership of anything that is created with that data. Kaufman and other city council members are now negotiating for clear terms on how the city's data will be used and if those conditions can't be met then the city could part ways with flock. I think it's certainly a possibility. Yeah absolutely because it is data of our citizens of our residents really want that to be well protected from a data perspective. Since they've been installed, police data shows flock cameras have been used to make over 300 arrests in Pflugerville but now the focus is on finding balance. I think a lot of it's going to come down to the community sentiment, the balance between public safety and privacy for our residents. Pflugerville City Council is expected to take a vote on that contract their next meeting on august 25th.