Data privacy concerns spark debate on the future of Flock cameras in R.I.
Data privacy concerns spark debate on the future of Flock cameras in R.I.
Publish Date: 2026-02-03 00:11:00
Source Domain: www.browndailyherald.com
On Dec. 12, a camera on North Main Street captured a picture of a grey rental car. The renter of the car was Claudio Neves Valente, the suspect in the Dec. 13 mass shooting at Barus and Holley.
That picture of Valente’s license plate was “instrumental” in the ensuing police investigation, according to Kristy dosReis, Providence’s chief public information officer for public safety.
The image was captured by one of Rhode Island’s Flock cameras — automated license plate readers designed to record the make, model, colors and other details of passing cars. According to the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, there are at least 193 cameras in the state.
Law enforcement agencies have access to a database that stores the information collected by the cameras. This data has been used for investigating crimes such as missing persons cases and vehicle thefts according to dosReis.
In addition to fostering efficient and responsive policing, Flock cameras could serve as a deterrent for would-be criminals “considering committing crimes using vehicles,” dosReis wrote in an email to The Herald.
But some advocates and researchers are wary about the implications of Flock camera’s extensive data collection.
The ACLU of R.I. has opposed the installation of Flock cameras since 2021. According to Madalyn McGunagle — a policy associate at the ACLU of R.I. — camera data in other states has been shared with immigration enforcement officials and used to track down people suspected of crossing state lines to seek reproductive care.
Flock does not have a contract with ICE or any sub-agency of the Department of Homeland Safety, according to Paris Lewbel, the public relations manager for the company. “Non-customers cannot directly access the Flock platform,” he added.
While the cameras can be useful in targeted police investigations, the “larger issue with…
