ACLU and EFF Launch Lawsuit Against San Jose Over Flock Surveillance Cameras
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) have filed a lawsuit against San Jose, California, over its use of Flock’s license plate-reading surveillance cameras. The case alleges that the city’s nearly 500 cameras create a pervasive and invasive surveillance network, violating California’s privacy laws and constitution. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Services, Immigrant Rights & Education Network and Council on American-Islamic Relations, California, and claims that the surveillance is a violation of California’s constitution and its privacy laws. The lawsuit seeks to require police to get a warrant in order to search Flock’s license plate system. The lawsuit is one of the highest profile cases challenging Flock; a similar lawsuit in Norfolk, Virginia seeks to get Flock’s network shut down in that city altogether. “San Jose’s ALPR [automatic license plate reader] program stands apart in its invasiveness,” ACLU of Northern California and EFF lawyers wrote in the lawsuit. “While many California agencies run ALPR systems, few retain the locations of drivers for an entire year like San Jose. Further, it is difficult for most residents of San Jose to get to work, pick up their kids, or obtain medical care without driving, and the City has blanketed its roads with nearly 500 ALPRs.”
The legal battle highlights the growing concerns surrounding mass surveillance technologies and their impact on civil liberties. As cities expand their use of advanced monitoring systems, the balance between public safety and individual privacy remains a contentious issue. This case is expected to set a precedent for how law enforcement agencies can legally operate in the digital age.