ACLU of Iowa points to public frustration over surveillance

KCCI Anchor, Reporter

The Story County Sheriff’s Office answered questions from the county Board of Supervisors about its use of Flock Safety cameras, automated license plate readers that track vehicles for public safety and criminal investigations.

Supervisors questioned how the system is used and what safeguards protect residents’ information.

“What are the uses? What are the guarantees of privacy, and how do we not violate people’s privacy?” said Linda Murken, Story County Board of Supervisors.

‘Modern-day policing’: Local law enforcement share their work with flock cameras

Sheriff’s office representatives said the county uses the system’s lowest service tier and does not have access to nationwide data. Officials also expressed concerns about Flock Safety and the information the company can access.

“I do have really big concerns about the company and the data they have access to, independent of what we might think we are giving them permission for,” one official said.

The board did not discuss recent vandalism or destruction of Flock cameras.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa said it opposes vandalism but views the incidents as a sign of growing public frustration over government surveillance.

“We see these acts as more of a symptom of the frustration that Iowans are feeling in discovering that they are being tracked in their everyday movements as they go about their business in public life,” Said Rebecca Eastwood, ACLU of Iowa.

Eastwood says the ACLU of Iowa does not condone the vandalism and destruction.

Instead urging concerned residents to contact local officials, request government contracts, and pursue change through public advocacy.

“They need to go to their city councils. They need to go to their boards of supervisors, ask for the contracts, come to the ACLU and work with us,” Eastwood said.

“We’re working all across the state to make sure Iowans are aware of this system and know how it impacts our civil liberties.”