Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Surveillance Technology

Avon Opens Public Debate After Vandals Target Police Camera Network
CBS Colorado, Approved, Local

Avon Opens Public Debate After Vandals Target Police Camera Network

By Spencer Wilson | CBS Colorado A discussion over privacy, policing and public safety technology is taking center stage in Avon after three police cameras were vandalized earlier this month. That includes two speed enforcement cameras and one Flock license plate reader. The acts of vandalism happened during the early morning hours of July 18, when someone cut down or damaged camera poles and stole two of the devices. It resulted in more than $76,000 in damage and replacement costs, according to documents prepared for Tuesday night's Avon Town Council meeting. Police said they are actively investigating the felony vandalism and theft. The vandalism also ignited a much larger conversation online after the Avon Police Department's Facebook post about the damage...
Who watches the watchers? Why surveillance technology needs stronger oversight, not less
American Thinker, Approved, Commentary, National

Who watches the watchers? Why surveillance technology needs stronger oversight, not less

By Brian Joondeph | Commentary, American Thinker Trust is important. Verification is essential. More than 2,000 years ago, the Roman poet Juvenal posed a timeless question: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? — “Who will guard the guards themselves?” or “Who watches the watchers?” The Romans could never have imagined artificial intelligence, facial recognition, or nationwide networks of automated license-plate readers. Yet their question may be even more relevant today than it was three millennia ago. Recent debate over Flock Safety cameras illustrates why. The cameras have become an invaluable law enforcement tool. A stolen vehicle that crosses several jurisdictions can now be identified in minutes rather than days. An abducted child can sometimes be located be...
Colorado Democrats Push Measure Targeting ICE Use of Vehicle Tracking Systems
Complete Colorado, Approved, State

Colorado Democrats Push Measure Targeting ICE Use of Vehicle Tracking Systems

By Savana Kascak | Complete Colorado DENVER–A bill imposing new restrictions on police access to vehicle location surveillance data cleared a Colorado Senate committee on Monday, with one Democrat sponsor making no bones that the legislation is in significant part aimed at federal immigration enforcement. Senate Bill 26-070 bans law enforcement agencies from accessing databases containing historical vehicle locations without first obtaining a warrant. The bill also prohibits any sharing of data with third parties, including via Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests. Such databases include those used by companies like Flock Safety, Motorola, and Axon, which utilize cameras, license plate readers, and cellular networks in public intersections to assist police in...