A recent YouGov survey of 20,000 U.S. respondents, exclusively shared with The Washington Post, reveals a shift in public opinion regarding police license plate surveillance cameras, such as those operated by Flock. The survey indicates that 46% of participants oppose the deployment of these cameras in their communities, while 38% support them, marking a reversal from the previous year when a majority favored the technology. The survey also found that a significant portion of respondents believe the surveillance would not enhance their sense of safety.

Flock, which manages over 120,000 license plate readers across the United States, has faced mounting controversy due to reports of police misuse of the cameras, leading to numerous communities rejecting or terminating contracts with the company over privacy concerns. In response to the survey findings, Flock acknowledged that support for its technology is not unconditional and highlighted the implementation of new safeguards. However, critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), argue that these measures are insufficient and maintain that Flock poses a substantial threat to civil liberties. Amid the growing backlash, including incidents of vandalism targeting Flock cameras, the company’s CEO, Garrett Langley, recently called for a compromise between surveillance and privacy. Source

This is a summary. Read the original at techcrunch.com.