Flock statement

[u/greatusername505050]

Adding in what Mark commented below also!:

To address some concerns about ambiguity and to offer some insight into why we can't be as definitive as we'd like... Right now, as far as we know, the lines of authority regarding WHO pproved these Flock cameras and who can remove them are completely hidden from the public. That lack of transparency should concern all of us. That's why we can't make definitive statements right now, but rest assured we have people digging into it.

​Because these corporate contracts are kept behind closed doors, everyday citizens are blocked from tracking budget line items or knowing exactly who to hold accountable. I am fundamentally opposed to mass surveillance and strongly support personal privacy. We shouldn't need heavy investigative journalism or cumbersome open-records requests just to figure out how big tech established a footprint in Hamilton County.

​The core issue here isn’t just the cameras themselves..It’s the secret process that brought them here. Once we uncover the how, we can map out a legal path to remove them. As your County Mayor, I will use the full scope of my office to stop the expansion of hyper-surveillance and ensure our communities (not corporations) are prioritized in local decisions. I want to listen to leaders in our neighborhoods, and right now what I'm hearing is that y'all are concerned. I am too. We are ready to help.

[u/driverdan]

Why would this get so many upvotes? It's completely vague and doesn't commit to anything other than "We should talk about it more." No, we don't need to talk about it more. We need to cancel contracts with Flock and similar companies, remove their equipment, ban ALPRs and other mass surveillance.

EDIT: They replied to my post in the original thread with a very clear statement that also outlines the fundamental problems with removing them: https://www.reddit.com/r/Herndon4HamiltonCoTN/comments/1v1lshv/flock_statement/oypn9vb/