S.F. Democratic Party stands behind Flock surveillance cameras in vote
2 hours ago
- The San Francisco Democratic Party voted to continue supporting Flock surveillance cameras, rejecting a resolution to impose stricter regulations or suspend the contract.
- Flock cameras scan license plates and have been criticized for illegal data access by outside agencies, including over 1.6 million unauthorized searches in 2024-2025.
- Supporters of the cameras argued their crime-fighting benefits outweigh privacy risks, while opponents cited data security and misuse concerns.
- Two committee members who work for Flock, Lily Ho and Trevor Chandler, voted despite potential conflicts of interest, and their votes were counted due to lack of conflict-of-interest rules.
- The party's resolution has limited formal power, but the city's Board of Supervisors may decide to renew the Flock contract in February 2027.
- Critics expressed frustration with the party's handling of the issue, calling for accountability and suggesting alternatives like reviving the SF GOP.