Utah Group Urges UDOT to Cancel Flock Camera Contract Over Privacy Concerns
- State transportation managers in Utah hold the contractual power to shut down automated license plate readers across state roads by canceling their agreements, a nonprofit advocacy group said...
- Advocacy members discovered a provision while reviewing the contract line by line.
- Public opposition has surged around privacy issues and instances of police officers misusing the tracking networks to stalk acquaintances.
State transportation managers in Utah hold the contractual power to shut down automated license plate readers across state roads by canceling their agreements, a nonprofit advocacy group said in an announcement covered by newsfromthestates.com and yahoo.com. The Utah Civic Compact argues that terminating the state contract with Flock Group Inc. would sharply limit road surveillance without needing action from the Utah Legislature.
Utah Transit Contract Contains Public Support Clause
Advocacy members discovered a provision while reviewing the contract line by line. The agreement allows the Utah Department of Transportation to end its pact for highway installations if it determines that the public does not support the company’s activities, newsfromthestates.com reported. Groups such as the Utah Civic Compact point to recent public outcry and vandalism of devices as proof that residents distrust the technology.
Privacy Concerns Escalate Over National Surveillance
Public opposition has surged around privacy issues and instances of police officers misusing the tracking networks to stalk acquaintances. Flock Safety cameras operate on poles across roadways and parking lots, capturing a massive volume of vehicle data. While law enforcement agencies defend the technology as an effective tool that helps solve roughly two thousand crimes daily, state leaders have voiced serious misgivings, according to newsfromthestates.com and yahoo.com reporting.
Utah Transportation Officials Review Legal Language
Attorneys for the Utah Department of Transportation spent Friday reviewing the contract terms, agency spokesperson John Gleason told newsfromthestates.com. Gleason explained that the department currently focuses on verifying permits and counting devices bordering state highways, adding that big-picture policy questions regarding surveillance purposes fall to local law enforcement agencies rather than transportation managers. Gleason also noted that the agency cannot access the data collected by the equipment.
State Regulators and Lawmakers Weigh Next Steps
Governor Spencer Cox called for a comprehensive review in August, directing the Utah Privacy Governing Board and the Utah Privacy Commission to examine how local agencies utilize the system. Current Utah law restricts camera data access to active criminal investigations, outstanding warrants, missing person searches, and stolen vehicle recovery. However, the Utah Civic Compact maintains a regulatory gap exists because out-of-state agencies connecting to the network may bypass local restrictions.
