Lawmakers in Harrisburg are introducing legislation to curtail the use of Flock cameras, a nationwide network of cameras that record the license plate numbers and other characteristics of passing vehicles, across the commonwealth. Gov. Josh Shapiro has come out in support of a statewide ban on the cameras, saying they are “not in the public interest.”
So we’d like to know: Do Flock cameras make you feel safer—or more watched?
“I agree that Flock cameras help the police solve crimes. I also agree that it seems like a ‘Big Brother’ issue, which I hate. The problem is the access to the data that individuals with ill intent have. It could be a curious ex-boyfriend cop, a hacker, a political foe, etc. So, I’m against Flock cameras.” — Byron, Chester County
“By all means keep these cameras on! There are many pros and cons, like almost everything in life, but the benefits outweigh the privacy concerns. No need to worry about privacy if you’re obeying our laws.” — Billie, Montour County
“Many residents have cameras at their house and can see the people taking a stroll/run down their street or those delivering packages. This can also be considered an invasion of privacy but that is acceptable and criminals have been caught with home cameras. So, why not let the police do their job with a camera? If you’re not disobeying the law, then no issue.” — Donna Kreitzer, York County
“There is no question that universal monitoring can play a role in crime prevention and tracking of alleged perpetrators, but at what cost? Widespread use of Flock cameras represents a massive violation of our Fourth Amendment rights. We have already seen how people in law enforcement have abused their access to this technology to pursue personal interests. It would be no stretch to see such systems being abused to track anyone the government considers malefactors or enemies, activists organizing for political purposes, women seeking abortions, members of the opposition party doing anything at all. The benefits are real, but the cost in our personal liberty is too high.” — Will Byrnes, Wilkes-Barre
Let us know how you feel about Flock cameras below.
