Assembly Holds Hearing on Flock Cameras

On Monday Nov. 9, three NYS Assembly committees held a public hearing on Automatic license plate readers. These are systems that utilize a combination of computer software and cameras to scan the license plates of passing vehicles. In the last few years, there has been a proliferation in the use of these systems by private businesses and local law enforcement agencies in New York State for commercial and private operations as well as public safety purposes. However, the increase in utilization of automatic license plate readers has also raised many concerns, including questions about how these systems are being used, who has access to such systems, and the extent to which consumer data is being shared. There are currently no universal minimum standards for consumer data usage and sharing by automatic license plate reader systems in New York State. We hear from three speakers: Daniel Schwarz of the New York Civil Liberties Union; Michael Chameides, Co-Executive Director, Columbia County Sanctuary Movement; and Corinne Worthington of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.