GREEN BAY, Wis. (WZMQ) – Communities across the country have been pushing back on Flock cameras. And just down the road in Green Bay, Wisconsin, it’s no different. Some citizens are taking it upon themselves to push for change.
With Flock cameras scattered around the region, citizens who have privacy concerns are looking for ways to make a change. Over the weekend, a group in Wisconsin got together for a Green Bay de-flock meeting.
“I would love to live in a state that doesn’t have surveillance everywhere all the time,” said area resident Lisa Sanderfoot.
Lisa Sanderfoot says her group wants the license-plate-reading cameras removed, with legislative changes to follow. “I think that until we have legislation and a complete understanding that, yeah, a moratorium is a really good idea,” said Sanderfoot.
Across the country, some opponents have resorted to blocking the camera’s view by placing obstacles over the camera’s lens. She says the group isn’t encouraging any vandalism of the cameras. But she is concerned about her privacy. The legality of blocking the cameras depends on the municipality.
However, Legal experts agree that the best way to handle Flock cameras is to reach out to elected officials. In Green Bay, Alderman Joey Prestley says he receives calls and emails about Flock cameras weekly.
“The policy is really important to me. That’s the protection that we have from the technology being abused. We’ve worked with the chief. The chief has been super receptive to ideas from both council and the public,” said Green Bay Alderman Joey Prestley.
“Nobody in the group is anti-police. We should keep people safe. We want people to be safe, but the people who were there were really concerned about privacy violations,” said Sanderfoot.
In August, Green Bay Police Chief Chris Davis said the cameras are a valuable public safety tool. “I don’t want to violate people’s civil liberties or impact people any more than we have to, any more than they want us to,” said Green Bay Police Chief Chris Davis.
The trend continues in nearby Menasha, Wisconsin, where the mayor has directed that all Flock cameras be bagged and rendered inoperable. This comes weeks after a former Menasha police officer was convicted of misconduct in office after using Flock cameras to stalk his ex-girlfriend. This all contributes to a growing backlash against what many consider an invasion of privacy.
