AUSTIN, Texas — The city of Austin has decided to discontinue its Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) program effective at the end of this month, following increasing apprehension over privacy issues and the implications of data collection.
Automatic License Plate Readers are devices that capture images of license plates at high speed and store these images in a database, which can potentially link the data to criminal activity or missing persons cases.
During a council meeting on Wednesday, local coalitions and council members voiced their concerns, citing that ALPRs might be utilized as tools for mass surveillance rather than solely for public safety.
Annette Price, executive director of Grassroots Leadership, emphasized the risks associated with data collection, stating, “There are not enough companies out there that can guarantee that our data will be protected. It is best to not collect it in the first place.”
The city previously partnered with companies such as Flock Safety and Axon to manage the program, which currently utilizes 40 fixed cameras and approximately 500 cameras mounted on police vehicles.
Council members argued that the collected data could be misused to track individuals seeking abortions or gender-affirming care, raising serious concerns about the impact on civil liberties.
“That’s the concern here: the dramatic negative impact on civil liberties and privacy for our community with programs like this,” said Mike Seigel, District 7 Councilmember.
In a response to the discontinuation of the program, Flock Safety issued a statement highlighting the public safety benefits derived from their technology, which has led to 165 arrests, approximately 134 prosecutions, and the recovery of one missing or endangered person.
Holly Beilin, Flock’s Director of Communications, reassured that their system includes accountability measures, stating, “Every search that is conducted on an agency’s cameras is preserved permanently in an audit trail – enabling oversight and transparency for every search.” She also mentioned that Flock does not hold contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the Department of Homeland Security, indicating the responsibility for choosing how technology is used lies with individual police departments.
City Manager T.C. Broadnax made the decision to terminate the ALPR program and remove it from Thursday’s agenda, where a vote to extend the program was anticipated.
Despite the technology being credited as a valuable tool to address staffing shortages and crime reduction within the Austin Police Department, Police Chief Lisa Davis acknowledged the community’s concerns.
Davis argued that the technology fills essential gaps given current staffing levels, stating, “As your Austin Police Department, we can be good stewards of this and do good with it and make some exceptional, exceptional dents in our violent crime and in what it truly takes to make this, Austin, the safest city in America.”
The Austin Police Department expressed support for the City Manager’s decision to withdraw the ALPR program in a statement given on Thursday.
The department recognizes the importance of listening to community concerns as a pivotal opportunity to reassess future strategies.
The statement reinforced a commitment to enhancing education, community engagement, and further research to ensure all perspectives are considered moving forward.
“The City of Austin and Austin Police Department deserves access to the most effective technology, tools, and resources to keep our community, and our officers safe,” the statement added.
The statement emphasized the critical role of technology in solving cases and removing dangerous individuals from the streets while ensuring responsible examination of investigative technologies.
It remains unclear what the fate of the existing cameras will be—whether they will remain installed or be deactivated.
Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes noted that discussions regarding the future of these cameras will require further conversations with City Manager Broadnax.
Additionally, Fuentes pointed out that the council would need to consider possible replacements for the ALPR technology, recalling a similar scenario in 2020 when LPR technology was also shelved.
At the same time, District 9 Councilmember Zo Qadri remarked that although the ALPR program has been suspended, there is a potential for it to be re-evaluated and brought back before the council in the next five to six months.
Qadri believes the city will be better prepared to oppose the program should it resurface.
“We’ll continue to ensure that we are pursuing justice for all victims in our community,” Fuentes stated, highlighting the Council’s commitment to community safety and justice as they navigate future discussions.
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