Dozens sound off on Flock technology at Milwaukee FPC meeting, call for city to cancel contract
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- At Milwaukee’s City Hall Thursday, Sept. 3, dozens of people sounded off against Flock camera technology and the city’s use of surveillance technology.
They took aim at privacy concerns and with how the city is using the data that’s collected.
Because Flock technology was not on the agenda, all the comments came during public comment, and the FPC commissioners could not respond.
So many people showed up that the Fire & Police Commission opened up an overflow room.
Emotions ran high as people shared their fears of being recorded, and they shared personal experiences.
Napoleon Jones drove in from Waukesha County. Jones has filed a federal lawsuit against a Waukesha County sheriff’s deputy he says searched his license plate hundreds of times in the Flock system.
Jones said he was in Milwaukee to show “just how easy it is to be abused."
"And there’s no oversight," Jones said.
The meeting was at times combative.
Amanda Lang, with the organization Black Leaders Organizing for Communities, said, “The police chief said we’re listening. And we’re leaning in. And we hope they understand, the community understands that we’re trying. If you were truly listening, you would cancel this bullsh*t.”
Kaye LaFond said, “Things are starting to feel really particularly dystopian.”
Several community groups helped spread the word to rally speakers to the meeting.
Alondra García, of Voces de la Frontera, said, “So much of our personal data is being used and exploited for the profit and benefit of those who already have immense power.”
This week, the mayor and police chief announced new restrictions on how Milwaukee uses the technology.
But people wanted to have input in the process.
Emilio de Torre, the executive director of the Milwaukee Turners, told us, “There are all these different mechanisms for the public to weigh in. You can’t have public trust without the public. You can’t have public safety without the public.”