Berkeley and Renton curb Flock Safety ALPR camera use amid privacy concerns

The Berkeley City Council voted 5‑4 to extend its contract with surveillance firm Flock Safety for the city’s 52 automated license‑plate‑reader (ALPR) cameras for one year at a cost of $200,000. Council members rejected a broader proposal that would have added drones, pan‑tilt‑zoom cameras and investigative software, citing privacy watchdog warnings that federal agencies could access the data and that the technology might be used to target immigrants.

In Renton, Washington, councilmembers responded to a flood of public comments by voting to pause the police department’s use of Flock ALPR cameras until additional information can address community concerns. The pause follows recent state privacy regulations under Senate Bill 6002 and reflects worries about data security and the impact on the city’s large immigrant population. While some councilmembers argued the cameras aid investigations, the decision highlights growing scrutiny of automated surveillance tools across U.S. municipalities.