The ACLU of RI today issued the following statement in response to Governor McKee’s pause of new ALPR installations and privacy review:
"The ACLU of Rhode Island applauds Governor McKee for recognizing the serious privacy implications of using automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras in our communities, for temporarily pausing State Police camera installations, and for asking municipalities to do the same. In the meantime, the ACLU will continue to call on cities and towns that have these systems to cancel their contracts with Flock Safety.
We note that legislation regulating this technology has been introduced for several years in a row. Passage of this legislation would have provided clear and strict standards on the installation and operation of ALPRs in Rhode Island, as well as strict guidelines regarding sharing the potentially sensitive data generated by these systems. Unfortunately, this legislation has been strongly opposed by law enforcement agencies, resulting in its failure to pass. We believe that the bill should serve as a template for the creation of a strong and uniform interim policy, until it can be passed next legislative session.
In anticipation of the passage of strong legislation, we hope that the drafting of any statewide policy by the stakeholders identified by the Governor includes the solicitation of and attention to broad public input. It should not just rely on those voices that are already in favor of or using this technology.
In light of the many abuses of the Flock Safety ALPR system that have already been documented across the country, it cannot be overstated that safeguards need to be as protective as possible in order to meaningfully safeguard the privacy of Rhode Islanders."
