Miami, Oklahoma Approves Flock Safety ALPR Cameras Without Public Hearing
Miami, Oklahoma Approves Flock Safety ALPR Cameras Without Public Hearing
By Miami News-Digest — Miami, Okla.
The City of Miami, Oklahoma recently approved a contract with Flock Safety to install automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras for the Miami Police Department, a move confirmed through city social media postings.
The contract, described as contingent upon legal and financial review, authorizes the procurement of ALPR cameras from the Atlanta-based surveillance technology firm.
However, to our knowledge, no formal public hearing or recorded vote has been made available to the community, and no ordinance or ordinance summary has yet been published in the city’s official minutes.
No Public Engagement or Approval Process Seen
Residents concerned about transparency say they have seen only brief social media announcements, with no public disclosure of cost, number of cameras, locations, or data governance policies.
“It’s important for residents to understand the scope of this system before we put it in place: who sees the data, how long it’s kept, and what oversight there will be. So far, we haven’t gotten any real answers.”
— Local business owner (name withheld)
Concerns From Oklahoma and the Nation
ALPR systems automatically scan and store license plate data, creating searchable databases of vehicle movements. Critics argue these systems can enable mass surveillance of everyday travel.
In Oklahoma, lawmakers and legal experts have raised concerns about the legality and oversight of ALPR technology.
Republican State Rep. Tom Gann recently led an interim study in the Oklahoma House highlighting privacy risks and the potential for warrantless tracking.
Learn more:
Unclear Data Policies and Oversight
At the time of approval, no public policy statement has been produced addressing:
- ALPR data retention periods
- Which agencies may access the data
- Limitations on database searches
- Data sharing with state or federal agencies
- Integration with fusion centers or platforms such as Palantir Gotham
Privacy advocates warn that without formal safeguards, communities lack meaningful oversight.
Documented Examples From Other Cities
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge paused and later terminated its Flock contract after discovering federal access to ALPR data. Additional cameras were reportedly installed without city approval due to an uncanceled work order.
Eugene & Springfield, Oregon
Both cities ended their Flock programs after public criticism. In Eugene, a camera briefly reactivated during a pause due to backend maintenance processes.
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston deactivated all Flock cameras after an audit found privacy violations and unauthorized data sharing. Cameras were later physically covered to prevent data collection.
What’s Next for Miami
City officials have stated that further details will be released after legal and financial review. Some residents are calling for a special public council meeting before any final deployment.
These national examples illustrate that once surveillance systems are deployed, terminating them can be legally and technically difficult.
Miami, Oklahoma aprueba cámaras ALPR de Flock Safety sin audiencia pública
Por Miami News-Digest — Miami, Okla.
La Ciudad de Miami aprobó recientemente un contrato con Flock Safety para instalar cámaras de lectura automática de placas vehiculares (ALPR) para el Departamento de Policía.
Hasta donde tenemos conocimiento, no se ha realizado ninguna audiencia pública formal ni se ha publicado una ordenanza oficial.
Residentes expresan preocupación por la falta de transparencia, supervisión y políticas claras sobre el uso y la protección de los datos.
Estas experiencias en otras ciudades muestran que detener o revertir sistemas de vigilancia puede ser complicado una vez implementados.
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