Several group of activists are rallying Saturday evening to oppose the use of automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras in Davie and other cities in Broward County, saying the new technology violates privacy rights and is being misused by law enforcement officials.
"This rally is being organized to demand accountability and action from Davie city officials to get ALPR contracts cancelled and the cameras must come down," said the activists in a statement.
"When ALPR systems, like that of Flock Safety, mesh information with other surveillance and police information systems, the result becomes mosaic surveillance — a blatant disregard of the Fourth Amendment," say the activists.
Flock Safety is a leading surveillance technology company that has come under scrutiny from lawmakers from both parties, civil liberties advocates and citizens across the country.
Flock cameras are a brand of new technology that allows police departments to search for specific license plates and get access to a nationwide surveillance database that can track a vehicle's movements.
Thousands of law enforcement agencies in 49 states can search and share Flock's data across jurisdictions to aid their investigations.
The groups rallying Saturday include the Florida Digital Rights Association, 50501, OccupyFlorida, and Hope & Action. The rally will take place at the intersection of S. University Drive and Nova Drive, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The activists specifically want the Davie Town Council and the Community Redevelopment Agency Board to cancel the existing ALPR program and to explain why Flock Safety has no registered contract with the town.
They say ALPR's are inaccurate and cause wrongful arrests. That data is being shared across state lines and federal agencies without consent. And that the ALPR ystems are not secure and prone to data breaches.
Abuses have drawn widespread attention. The Washington Post reported earlier this month finding nearly 50 instances of police officers charged or accused of using the cameras for unauthorized purposes, many for tracking current or former romantic partners or family members.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
