Flock cameras damaged in El Paso County, week of action against ALPR cameras ahead
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- Across the country, people are damaging Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras, commonly known by one of their brand names, Flock.
Now, it's happening in southern Colorado.
KRDO13 discovered three Flock cameras that had been cut down in El Paso County along Bradley Drive in the Security-Widefield area.
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office (EPSO) confirmed to KRDO13 that the damaged cameras were theirs, stating that the agency had several investigations open regarding damaged cameras prior to this incident.
Additionally, the Fountain Police Department (FPD) has confirmed damage to four cameras. FPD arrested three juveniles in connection with one of these instances and has upped enforcement since.
This all comes as an intelligence bulletin reviewed by ABC News revealed that activists are calling next week, August 16-22, the "National Week of Action Against ALPRs."
According to ABC News, activists are mobilizing protests against cities and departments that use this technology, and law enforcement is being urged to step up patrols.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, ALPR cameras systems use cameras and software to automatically capture, analyze, and store vehicle license plate information. ALPR systems compare license plate numbers against databases to generate alerts and create records of vehicle activity.
However, there’s a growing concern surrounding the use of these cameras.
Critics say ALPR cameras invade privacy, can be used for the wrong reasons, have led to wrongful arrests and contribute to mass surveillance.
Now, many activists are damaging cameras across the country.
Today, Aug. 13, Flock announced updates to its data security policies, addressing allegations that law enforcement officers have misused these cameras.
"Last month alone, we helped detect over 1,000 missing people, over 20,000 stolen cars. We've realized our responsibility and our opportunity to set a new standard for safety and privacy has grown with it,” Flock Safety CEO and Founder Garrett Langley said.
DeFlock, the advocacy group behind the national week of action, confirms on its website that Colorado Springs and Pueblo West are participating cities.
KRDO13 also reached out to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), Pueblo Police Department (PPD), and the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) regarding their ALPR cameras.
None of them have reported any intentionally damaged cameras at this time.
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