DeKalb Council Approves Flock Safety Contract After Public Opposition

DEKALB — The DeKalb City Council approved a contract with Flock Safety on a 4 to 1 vote Monday night despite strong opposition from residents who raised concerns about privacy, data collection and government oversight. The agreement will allow the DeKalb Police Department to move its automated license plate reader system from Genetec to Flock Safety’s cloud based platform. During public comment, several residents urged council members to reject the proposal, arguing that Flock Safety’s national network collects and stores vehicle data in ways that could threaten civil liberties and personal privacy. Speakers also cited concerns about data sharing practices, potential misuse of the technology and a lack of public engagement before the contract was brought forward. The council approved the contract following discussion, with Ward 7 Alderman John Walker casting the lone dissenting vote.