Solvang Re-examines AI Camera Contract Amid Privacy Concerns

Solvang, California, a city often referred to as the 'Danish Capital of America,' is revisiting its decision to deploy AI-enabled cameras across public spaces. The City Council is set to re-evaluate its surveillance policy following public apprehension regarding technologies like those offered by Verkada and Flock Safety.

In July 2025, the Solvang City Council approved a three-year contract with XIT Solutions for the installation of Verkada cameras. These cameras were intended for deployment at various key locations, including City Hall, Solvang Park, and along major thoroughfares like First Street, Alisal Road at Oak Street, and Alisal Road at Copenhagen Drive.

However, the move has sparked significant public concern over privacy. Councilmember Elizabeth Orona voiced these concerns during a City Council meeting on September 14, stating that the initial approval overlooked critical details about the technology. "What we didn’t do was investigate what the camera technology really does and where the data gets stored and who has access to it and who’s governing that access to it," Orona said.

Her remarks highlighted that the chosen camera company, Verkada, had reportedly experienced a security breach where its administrative credentials were compromised. "The camera company has been hacked, and their super admin credentials have been compromised," Orona added.

Orona further elaborated that her call for a policy review is particularly relevant given the city's broader interest in integrating more AI tools, including facial recognition and license plate recognition technologies. She noted the absence of specific California laws governing facial recognition, leaving the city's internal policy as the primary safeguard for citizen privacy.

"There is no California law in place for facial recognition anymore. So only our policy is in between the public’s expectation of some level of privacy and what we’re doing with that content and how we’re governing it and who has access to it and how secure it is," Orona stated.

This re-evaluation in Solvang follows a similar decision in Santa Barbara. Just one day after the Solvang City Council meeting, the Santa Barbara City Council also postponed plans to sign a contract with Verkada. This decision was made pending a comprehensive review of the city's license plate reader policies, as reported by the Santa Barbara News-Press.