LAPD ends Flock Safety camera agreement over privacy concerns

The Los Angeles Police Department is ending its agreement with Flock Safety, the company that operates license plate-reading surveillance cameras throughout the city, KABC reported. The department will let the contract expire Saturday, closing a three-year relationship with the security firm. Flock's cameras capture images of vehicles and license plates on roadways, and the LAPD says they help track down suspects involved in crimes. Stored data is kept between seven and 30 days before deletion, and the department says the cameras are audited and inspected for compliance regularly. '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,' said Dean Gialamas, the LAPD's chief information officer. The department says the cameras are not used for immigration enforcement. The LAPD does not own the cameras. In many cases they are owned by organizations and homeowners' associations that have allowed police and the city to access them. Police said discussions with Flock Safety continue, and the department wants updated privacy and data-storage language in any new contract. Flock said the development came as a surprise and that it remains committed to finding a path forward with the department.