There are 56 AI surveillance cameras by the sides of roads in the Town of Newburgh. The town pays $176,000 per year to Flock, owner of the cameras. Flock is an $8.5 billion AI data tech corporation. Cameras on black poles with solar panels photograph and collect the license plate number of every vehicle. Flock combines the data it gathers in Newburgh with data it buys, and creates a dossier on every individual it has tracked. Including you.

AI errors, like misreading a 7 for a 2, have caused police to make high risk stops of what they thought was a stolen car. This has led to innocent people being injured and towns having to pay out millions to settle lawsuits.

Flock networks are insecure and vulnerable to hacking, leading US Senator Ron Wyden to ask the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate Flock on the grounds of national security. All across the country, police departments are arresting and firing officers who have used the network to stalk exes and other people. As police departments conduct audits, more examples of this abuse are coming to light.

San Jose is being sued over Flock’s 4th amendment violations, and the recent Supreme Court ruling on use of cell phone data suggests they will lose the suit.

If you don’t want this in the Town of Newburgh, tell the town council to cancel its contract with Flock. Go to council meetings, call the town, email the council members. (emails are on town website)