Flock System •

Flock System •

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Flock cameras function as expanded, indiscriminate police state surveillance that monitors the movement of community members without consent, oversight, or regulation. The City should end its contract with Flock Safety and use of mass surveillance, opting instead to rely on formal warrants and due process for obtaining information in pursuit of solving a crime. An interim step would be to modify existing contracts to include limitations on data sharing with outside entities, including other governmental agencies, and develop a formal policy requiring structured oversight and data audits.

PROBLEM

What is the problem?  

  • Unrestrained and poorly understood surveillance technology in Houston

  • Current data collection and data sharing practices across law enforcement agencies amplify risk for specific communities, including immigrants

  • Over 3,500 cameras throughout Houston, most located on private property not directly controlled by the City

  • There is no current data that suggests camera surveillance has a meaningful impact on case closure rates

What “accountable to” constituency does this problem impact? How (financial, public health etc)?  

  • Immigrants are endangered through ICE access to data

  • People experiencing domestic violence are endangered because they can be easily tracked

  • Community members at large are surveilled, regardless of justice system involvement

  • How has the City attempted to solve this problem in the past? Has a comprehensive solution been previously proposed/funded?  If it fell short, how so? 

  • What promises (in law or spirit) has this promise broken? 

    • Right to privacy

    • Due process?

SOLUTION

What part of the problem does the solution solve? 

Where else has solution or similar been attempted? 

    • New Hampshire passed a law restricting data retention to 3 minutes with exceptions for certain vehicles already tied to a non-abortion crime.

What is left unsolved for by this solution? 

    • Security camera ordinance (2022)

    • Ring doorbell cameras

    • Cell-site Simulators/IMSI catchers

    • Gunshot detection software / ShotSpotter

  • Does the city have legal authority to pursue this solution? Has state pre-emption been attempted in related policies? 

    • Possibly the majority of Flock use is private. How do we address that?

    • Can we put the burden of proof on the police?

  • What is the financial impact to the city? 

    • Revenue generating, if so how?  

    • Funding from within General Fund

  • Anticipated opposition 

    • TIRZs, Management Districts, HPD, Mayor, Council Members

  • Anticipated supporters 

  • How does this stand up to Whitmire?