This past year, Skamania County installed Flock Safety license plate reader cameras in various locations throughout the county, including one on Tribal land at the in-lieu site on Cook-Underwood Road. These cameras automatically record passing vehicles and upload data to a private company database accessible to law enforcement.

Recently, a landmark Washington court case ruled that all images recorded by these cameras are public record, and anyone can request them. In response, the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office indicated its intent to disable the county’s Flock cameras and has since turned them off over concerns that the court decision could make it easier to weaponize the data they collect.

Still, questions remain. Will cameras be removed or only turned off? What data was collected when they were on, and who had access to it? What challenges have other cities had in getting Flock cameras turned off and/or removed?

If you have ongoing questions about Flock surveillance systems in our community, mark your calendar and join neighbors for an evening of updates, sharing, and discussion. what other communities have learned after adopting similar technology.

Additional discussion topics will include:

– What makes Flock cameras different from other security cameras?
– Who can access Flock camera data, and how is it being used?
– What has our six-month data audit revealed about system activity, accuracy, and new camera locations?
– What have other communities learned after adopting similar technology?
– How have communities elsewhere responded to safety gains and/or privacy concerns?
– What rights and responsibilities do residents have regarding public surveillance?

This is a neighbor-led information session, not a government meeting. Your host, a local resident and national privacy and security expert, will share recent legal developments, county updates, and practical steps communities are taking to ensure transparency and accountability.

This event is free and open to everyone.