A Victory for Privacy: Santa Cruz Bans Flock Cameras, Activists Push for Expanded Fight Against License Plate Readers

The move by the City of Santa Cruz to ban Flock Safety cameras marks a significant victory for privacy advocates and a major setback for law enforcement agencies that have relied on the technology to track and monitor the movements of drivers.

This development comes on the heels of a National Week of Action Against Automated License Plate Readers, which is being kicked off by Get the Flock Out, a grassroots group in the Bay Area that has been at the forefront of the fight against ALPRs.

The group's efforts began last August, when Santa Cruz resident and mayoral candidate Ami Chen Mills first alerted local resident Lourdes Barraza about the presence of over 20 Flock Safety cameras in Watsonville, where Barraza lives.

Barraza's research revealed that local Flock data had been accessed by federal and out-of-state law enforcement agencies on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, sparking concerns about the impact of ALPRs on immigrant communities.

'The first thing that came to my mind is, why do we have so many?' Barraza asked. 'We have an immigrant population.' As it turns out, 35% of Watsonville's population are immigrants, according to 2024 data.

The City Council in Watsonville ultimately voted 5-2 to renew a two-year contract with Flock, despite nearly 50 people showing up to voice opposition at a public meeting.

However, Santa Cruz's decision to ban Flock cameras has sent a strong message to other jurisdictions in the Bay Area. 'This is a huge victory for the community,' said Barraza. 'It shows that when we come together, we can make a difference.'

Today, there are 37 license plate readers across Watsonville, but Get the Flock Out is not slowing down. The organization has grown and is now working to educate residents and lobby leaders to expand the fight against ALPRs across the Bay Area.

'A lot of the time, Flock cameras get sold to us as a thing that helps with safety: 'It's going to reduce crime, it's going to help the police,' Barraza noted. 'But then, they don't tell you all the negative things that come with it – like how many police officers have violated that trust by using Flock cameras for things they shouldn't be, that they're easily hackable, that anybody can be looking at you from anywhere without you even knowing.'

According to Manny, a speaker at the rally and member of the Santa Cruz Immigration Coalition, the cameras can create digital 'fingerprints' and tell who you are, even if you have your face covered. 'Let's say you walk in front of a camera with your face fully covered in San Francisco at 10:37... then you go to Santa Cruz, and you walk in front of another Flock camera wearing the exact same clothes,' Manny explained. 'The two cameras will know that it's the same person.'

The rally, taking place this Sunday, Aug. 16, at noon on the steps of the Santa Cruz County courthouse, is a chance to celebrate GTFO's success and educate others in the community about the dangers of ALPRs as a whole.

Manny offers some advice for community members who want to avoid Flock cameras: 'Educate yourself on what the cameras look like as well as where they're located, and avoid them.'

With the National Week of Action Against ALPRs, Get the Flock Out and its allies aim to raise awareness about the risks associated with these surveillance technologies and push for stronger regulations and oversight.

The fight against Flock cameras and ALPRs is far from over, but this significant victory in Santa Cruz provides a beacon of hope for those who believe in the importance of protecting individual privacy and promoting transparency in law enforcement practices.

As Get the Flock Out continues to mobilize residents and leaders across the Bay Area, one thing is clear: the momentum is on their side.