Rallies across Connecticut protest Flock, surveillance technology

(WFSB) - Eight rallies were held across the state Thursday to protest license plate readers and other surveillance technology used by police departments.

Opponents of the Flock cameras raised concerns about privacy while police continue to defend the technology as a tool for solving crimes.

Organizers said Thursday’s rallies are part of a statewide movement happening all day.

Several Connecticut communities voted to remove their cameras, including Manchester in a 5-4 vote this week.

Bristol rally Participants on a busy Bristol road waved signs at passing cars. The signs read “Deflock Connecticut,” “Stop all surveillance” and “Block the Flock.”

Jennifer Van Gorder of Bristol said she is tired of feeling watched everywhere she goes, especially by Flock cameras. Flock cameras are license plate readers that track and store vehicle tags for police.

“It’s gotten too much and it’s everywhere,” Van Gorder said.

Gabby Carrano of Bristol also attended the rally.

“At what point in time do we say enough is enough. There is literally surveillance everywhere,” Carrano said.

Petition for Bristol ballot Rally participants asked people to sign a petition. Organizers want to collect as many signatures as possible before next November to try to place questions on Bristol’s next ballot. The goal is for voters to have more say about surveillance cameras in their town.

“What we’re really trying to do is bring voice to the voters in Bristol,” Van Gorder said.

Organizers have about a year to collect the signatures they need.

Other Connecticut towns Rallies against surveillance were held in towns across the state, including Manchester. On Tuesday night, town leaders in Manchester voted to end the town’s contract with Flock.

Windsor and Ledyard have also ended their contracts with Flock. Some police departments in Connecticut continue to support the technology. They say the cameras help solve crimes easier and faster.

Shelly Mastroianni of Bristol questioned the technology.

“What were they doing before cameras? They still caught criminals. They’re tracking more innocent people than criminals, in my opinion,” Mastroianni said.

Organizers cite data concerns Dan Piper and Kay McAuliffe of the CT Civil Liberties Defense Committee organized the rallies. They said they are concerned about who can access the data collected by the cameras and whether it could be shared with federal agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement for immigration enforcement.

The organizers also argued that law-abiding residents should not be tracked or have their data collected while going about their daily activities.

McAuliffe said she wants to see independent evidence of the cameras’ effectiveness.

“They have anecdotes that are heart-wrenching to hear, but I’ve been to a number of council meetings, no one has put concrete numbers, [or an] independent study that shows there’s more safety and more crimes being solved,” she said.

Police and Flock respond Police, meanwhile, said the technology helps them solve crimes more quickly. Manchester police recently made an arrest in a home invasion and stabbing investigation with the help of the cameras.

Manchester Police Chief William Darby said removing the cameras could make some investigations more difficult.

“Will it make it a bit more difficult? Will there be crimes we may not be able to solve? Absolutely, but we’re not going to do our job any different,” Darby said.

Flock said data is destroyed after a few weeks if a person is not involved in a criminal investigation.

However, protest organizers have disputed that claim and said residents are being tracked around the clock.

Rallies across Connecticut protest Flock, surveillance technology

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