Berkeley extends Flock camera contract but rejects drones, surveillance expansion

The Berkeley City Council recently voted to extend its contract with security company Flock Safety for the use of its automated license plate reader cameras, but decided against adding drones, security cameras, and investigative software to the city’s surveillance infrastructure.

Police departments use ALPR cameras to investigate crimes like stolen vehicles. However, privacy watchdogs have raised concerns about federal agencies being able to access the camera data — a potential violation of state law — and using it for targeted surveillance of immigrants and other vulnerable groups.