Photo Credit: deFlock Maps
(GILBERT, AZ.) – While neighboring cities in the Valley are cancelling contracts with Flock amid ongoing investigations across the country of abuse using the surveillance system, Gilbert residents largely oppose the continued use of Flock cameras in their own town.
Flock cameras have been installed in cities across the country for the past several years. They are capable of detecting license plates and tracking them across great distances. While some online speculations outline a propensity for the cameras to detect biometric identifying markers via means such as facial recognition, Flock’s website states that, “No. Flock cameras do not use facial recognition.”
Even if these cameras are not being used to detect biomarkers, though, the information a camera can glean from a license plate at a certain place and time offers enough information for law enforcement agencies to utilize them during investigations.
A poll on the social media platform NextDoor revealed that the majority of participants are against the use of the cameras, with 576 votes against them and 170 votes in favor.
Photo Credit: NextDoor / Teri Tracy
Comments displayed an interesting divide between opinions on the matter. Many local users voiced strong opinions, openly opposing the cameras and citing issues that have come up in other affected cities. Others consisted of commenters who were not fazed by the cameras, stating that they don’t commit crime, and as such, they aren’t worried about being surveilled.
OpGov.News reached out to both the Gilbert Town Council and to the Gilbert Police Department to investigate whether they will reconsider the town’s contract with Flock in light of many cities across the state cancelling contracts of their own.
Gilbert Communications Officer Joanna Guzman provided a statement from the GPD on whether it will revisit its current contract with Flock.
Photo Credit: Gmail / Teri Tracy email correspondence from Joanna Guzman on behalf of Gilbert Police Department
The statement expresses no plans to cancel the current contract, but rather provides some information on how the department plans to handle the system internally.
It outlines plans to maintain accountability in managing the current Flock surveillance system, including steps such as automatically deleting surveillance image data on a rolling basis of 30 days. It also states that the department is “currently in the process of updating our auditing requirements from annual to monthly audits to further ensure accountability.”
The statement also says, “Although previous audits have not identified any instances of misuse, we are continually reviewing and strengthening our policies and procedures.”
Since 2023, a total of “39 ALPR cameras and three mobile ALPR cameras” have been installed around Gilbert, particularly in the downtown and SanTan Village areas, which are considered high-traffic areas, according to the department’s statement.
The police department also provided a link for residents to submit formal complaints for review or investigation here.
Ongoing resident testimony was present at the most recent town council meeting, where one resident spoke up to request that all Flock cameras be immediately removed from use and from the streets.
Named only as Sharon during public comment, her stance on Flock echoed sentiments shared in the aforementioned poll.
“By now, you should all be aware of the concerning number of innocent people who have been threatened, harassed, detained, and falsely arrested due to erroneous information provided by Flock to the police. The true danger is Flock itself. The system is prone to errors and misuse. The company has lied about its capabilities and usage,” she begins.
“To allow for the monitoring, surveillance, data collecting, and cyberstalking of Americans on American soil is repugnant and alarming,” she adds, “Our neighboring city, Chandler, just canceled their contract over an anomaly found during an audit. Los Angeles, the second largest city in the country, has now canceled their contract. Does Gilbert even have an independent auditing system in place?”
A growing movement some have coined the “De-Flock Movement” is taking the internet by storm, with countless social media accounts portraying the destruction and/or removal of Flock cameras in their respective cities.
More recently, a movement coined “De-Flock Day” has been spread by countless social media users, which encourages local residents to wear disguises on Halloween of this year to go out and physically destroy or remove the cameras altogether.
Photo Credit: Instagram / unitingnow
It’s unclear whether a change of heart will bring about differing ideas come January, when newly elected Gilbert officials are set to take office. As of now, Gilbert residents may continue to urge the council to revisit the idea of following Chandler’s example, but the town’s stance makes any change to its current Flock contract unlikely.
To add to or correct any information in this report, please contact me at tracy.t@lead4earth.org.
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