Flock Safety Cameras Produced An Eye-Popping Number Of False Positive Stolen-Vehicle Alerts In LA

The LAPD has opted not to renew its contract with Flock Safety Cameras after an internal review showing a staggering number of mistakes by the system regarding stolen-vehicle reports.

According to a report from Gadget Review, LAPD audits showed that Flock Safety cameras produced a 32.3 percent false-positive stolen-vehicle alert rate.

The audit scanned Flock reports from across just two months and revealed an incredible 161 false stolen-vehicle alerts.

This comes amid growing unrest across the country regarding the surveillance cameras, which have recently been removed from towns across 28 different states due to concerns regarding privacy and immigration.

Just recently, a man from West Virginia man received over 20,000 alibis from the public after he stood accused of cutting down multiple Flock cameras.

What Are Flock Cameras?

So, what exactly is a Flock camera? We’re glad you asked.

The specialized, solar-powered surveillance camera is by company Flock Safety and acts as an automated license plate reader.

The cameras are meant to be mounted near public roads and neighborhood entrances. They capture vehicle details such as license plate numbers, make, model, color, and unique identifiers like bumper stickers or dents in vehicles.

The camera then logs that information into a searchable database used by law enforcement

What’s The Big Deal?

In theory, Flock cameras can be used to make communities safer. Think Tony Stark’s “suit of armor around the world.”

However, like Stark’s idea, Flock cameras have several flaws.

The biggest, and most obvious one, is that people just don’t enjoy being watched everywhere. Nobody wants to feel like there’s a camera on them at all times. It is literally Orwellian, which is a term that is used far too often.

But in this case, the phrase holds true.

Many Flock cameras have been placed in areas other than roadsides. And residents believe that the cameras are both invasive and a threat to their safety.

Why Did The LAPD Take Issue With The Cameras Specifically?

It’s not very often you hear a police spokesperson speaking about his unit having too much information. However, that’s the case this time around.

When asked about the decision, LAPD’s chief information officer Dean Gialamas said: “This contract is not being renewed because of serious concerns around civil liberties and civil rights issues, particularly around privacy and the data that is being collected from these cameras.”

That issue becomes even more problematic when the data that Flock is providing to police is seemingly inaccurate one-third of the time.

That, among many others, is the primary issue that people have taken with Flock. They don’t want their privacy invaded by a camera that could, and seemingly does, provide false information to police that could lead to arrest or even imprisonment.