GET FLOCK OUT OF PORT!

PLS READ!!!

NEW FLOCK Cameras Installed in Sands Point:

Even if you don't live in Sands Point, this still affects you.

If you've driven in or out of Port, you are being tracked. That means that even if you are just leaving to visit friends, go to the beach, or attended an event, or driven on any of the roads leading in or out of Port Washington, you've passed an Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) camera.

Because Port Washington and Sands Point sit on a peninsula, there is effectively no way to drive in or out of Port without your vehicle passing one or more ALPR cameras.

These cameras don't just capture a picture of your license plate. Modern ALPR systems, such as Flock Safety can identify and record information such as:
• Your license plate number
• Your vehicle's make, model, and color
• The date and exact time you passed
• The GPS location of the camera
• Distinguishing features (stickers, roof racks, accessories, etc.) that help identify your vehicle

Example Image of Data Collected

Many people are unaware that Flock cameras are connected to a broader network. If your vehicle is scanned by one of these cameras, it takes the picture then puts it into a database, which can be accessed by any law enforcement agency across the US that also has the Flock system, including federal agencies. These images are kept for up to 30 days on average.

These ALPR cameras are collecting pictures of every car, even if you are not a person of interest or not, and the police can lookup anytime you have left or exited Port or ever passed a camera without a warrant.

While these systems are intended to assist in solving crimes, they have also raised significant privacy concerns. There have been documented cases involving:
• Unauthorized access to ALPR-related data. These cameras have major security vulnerabilities and have been hacked before.
• Law enforcement personnel misusing access to track individuals for personal reasons (ex. tracking ex partners). This has happened multiple times across the US.
• Concerns from cybersecurity experts and privacy advocates about the risks of centralized location databases.

If you're curious where these cameras are located, the DeFlock map is a free tool that shows known ALPR camera locations, including those throughout Port Washington, Sands Point, Manhasset, Roslyn, and surrounding communities. I have attached a screenshot, but I highly recommend looking at the full map. This can be accessed on Deflock.org

Whether you support these cameras or oppose them, I believe residents deserve to know where they are, what information is collected, and how the technology works, as most people are unaware about these cameras, even though they pass them all the time.

If you have questions or concerns, consider respectfully contacting the Village of Sands Point trustees, the Town of North Hempstead, or Congressman Tom Suozzi's office and asking about:
• Why these cameras were installed.
• What privacy safeguards are in place.
• Who has access to the data.
• How the data is protected.

Many cities across the US have spoken up to ALPRs in their communities, and I hope Port is next. (https://deflock.org/council#wins)

This post isn't meant to create fear at all; it's meant to raise awareness. Everyone deserves to understand the surveillance technology operating in their own community

Thank You.

(flockfreeport@gmail.com)

edit: i can't believe i have to put this, but DO NOT damage ANY Flock/ALPR Cameras in anyway. That is NOT what this post was supposed to intend at all.