A nationwide controversy surrounding Flock surveillance cameras has spilled into New York City, prompting users to examine the city's existing network of automated license plate readers (ALPRs). A crowdsourced app called DeFlock, designed to map ALPRs from various vendors, revealed a significant presence of such technology on New York streets, though no Flock cameras were identified within the city limits.
The app instead highlighted the extensive infrastructure of license plate readers operated by city agencies, including the Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and notably, the New York Police Department (NYPD).
Following the September 11, 2001, terror attacks, the NYPD systematically expanded its surveillance capabilities. This expansion included integrating private security cameras and subsequently deploying a widespread network of license plate readers. The NYPD's Domain Awareness System, described as one of the world's largest networks of cameras, license plate readers, and radiological sensors, was reportedly rolled out to every police precinct by 2013.
However, the use of these ALPRs has raised privacy concerns for over a decade. Advocates from the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) have argued that ALPRs pose significant privacy risks. According to the NYCLU, the collection and retention of license plate data over extended periods, combined with an increasing number of readers and sophisticated analytical tools, can create a detailed and searchable record of individuals' movements.
"With data over a longer period, with more license plate readers, and more sophisticated analytical tools, automatic license plate readers can tell an intimate story about an innocent New Yorker," stated a report from the NYCLU. Daniel Schwarz, senior privacy and technology strategist at the NYCLU, added, "Every day, the NYPD funnels license plate reader data into the Domain Awareness System, making New Yorkers’ locations — like where you work, your doctor’s office, or house of worship — trackable and searchable for a mind-boggling five years."
While New York City does not utilize Flock cameras, some communities on Long Island, such as the Village of Hempstead, have deployed approximately 75 Flock cameras across a 3.7-square-mile area.
The DeFlock app initially suggested a notable absence of license plate readers on the Upper West Side, sparking accusations of preferential treatment on social media. However, reports indicate that this perceived gap was due to the app's incomplete data. A law firm's compilation of ALPR locations reportedly showed the presence of these readers on the Upper West Side.
An NYPD spokesperson, Brad Weeks, stated that the DeFlock app's mapping is "totally inaccurate" and confirmed the existence of ALPRs on the Upper West Side, though specific numbers and locations were not provided. DeFlock has stated that its data is compiled by volunteers using open-source information and did not respond to requests for comment regarding the NYPD's claims. Representatives from the Department of Transportation and the mayor's office also did not respond to inquiries about the cameras.