Flock Safety license-plate cameras installed in Yosemite spark privacy backlash
Automated license-plate readers from Flock Safety were placed at six sites in Yosemite National Park, prompting criticism and vandalism elsewhere in California.
In Yosemite National Park, six automated license-plate readers supplied by Flock Safety were installed at points such as Wawona Road, near the park entrance from Highway 41, and El Portal Road off Highway 140. Officials say the cameras feed an Integrated Visitor Information System that tracks vehicle counts and helps estimate parking and trail-head wait times. The rollout follows a wave of scrutiny, with vigilantes dismantling similar units in Monterey County and the Los Angeles Police Department suspending its agreement with the vendor over privacy and data-security worries.
Sheriff Tina Nieto argued that removing any ALPR system would deprive investigators of a valuable crime-solving resource. A public map shows more than 117,000 Flock Safety readers nationwide, including more than 16,000 in California alone. The controversy reflects broader concerns about mass surveillance in public spaces.
Why it matters
The deployment raises questions about privacy and surveillance in public lands visited by millions.
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