LOS ANGELES – Following the Los Angeles Police Department’s decision to pause its use of Flock Safety automated license plate reader technology, Councilmember Ysabel Jurado issued the following statement:
“LAPD’s decision to pause its use of Flock confirms exactly why we introduced this motion.
This was never just about one vendor or one contract. It is about whether surveillance technology in Los Angeles is being used with clear rules, enforceable privacy protections, meaningful oversight, and full compliance with our sanctuary laws and civil rights commitments.
Before the City enters into any new agreement with Flock or any similar company, the public deserves answers: Who owns the data? Who can access it? Has it been shared with outside jurisdictions or federal agencies? Were any searches conducted on behalf of immigration authorities? What role have private donations or the LAPD Foundation played in expanding this network? And what happens to the data already collected?
Public safety and civil rights are not in conflict. Los Angeles can investigate serious crimes without creating a surveillance system that operates beyond public accountability or exposes immigrant communities to harm.
The next step is clear: the Public Safety Committee should hear this motion immediately, and LAPD, the Police Commission, the City Attorney, and the CAO should provide a full public accounting before any new agreement, contract, MOU, pilot program, or privately funded expansion is allowed to move forward.”
In May, Councilmember Jurado introduced a motion calling for a comprehensive public review of LAPD’s use of automated license plate reader technology before any new agreements or expansions move forward. The motion seeks greater transparency around data ownership, data sharing, access controls, privacy protections, compliance with the City’s sanctuary policies, and the role of privately funded surveillance infrastructure in Los Angeles.