Rich SoCal coastal enclave makes stunning call on controversial Flock cameras

Santa Barbara is giving controversial Flock license-plate cameras the boot — but the fight over police surveillance is far from over.The city’s contract with Flock Safety expired Aug.23 after residents blasted the automated license plate reader technology over privacy concerns, including fears that data could be shared with federal immigration authorities.At a City Council meeting Tuesday, members stopped short of signing a deal with another surveillance company and instead ordered a review of the city’s policy governing automated license plate readers, or ALPRs.For now, Santa Barbara will have no automated license plate cameras operating.The coastal city had been using 12 Flock cameras since late 2023.

Police Chief Kelly Gordon said the technology helped cops locate stolen cars, identify suspect vehicles and investigate serious crimes.Gordon said the cameras were used to identify suspects in a serial jewelry store robbery, a stabbing and attempted homicide and an assault in 2025.Solved violent crime cases increased 11% since the cameras were introduced, while solved hit-and-run cases rose 9%, she said.But residents said the potential privacy risks weren’t worth it.Eric Boser told the council that “we’ve seen across the country” how the technology can be “abused, misused, and target members of our community.”Britney Sarate, whose father is a 30-year law enforcement veteran, said there’s “case after case” of ALPR technology being used to “stalk women.”She also accused Verkada, the company Santa Barbara had considered as a Flock replacement, of being “specifically accused of using this technology to stalk and harass women.”Verkada’s system differs from Flock in that the cameras would be city-owned and controlled, with no public or multi-agency search access.Gordon recommended the city consider Verkada, saying it could preserve the investigative benefits of ALPRs while keeping data under the control of a single organization.She also ...