Denver's license plate surveillance system faces critical vote
A proposal expanding the contract duration for Denver police's license plate reader system is raising concerns about the surveillance tool's potential misuse.
Why it matters: In other jurisdictions, similar systems that provide law enforcement with real-time data have already been exploited by federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
By the numbers: Denver police want to add $666,000 to an existing contract with Flock Group Inc. that would expand its services two more years to continue operating the 111 cameras already installed at 70 locations citywide.
This would bring the contract's total to just over $1 million.
State of play: Denver police commander Jacob Herrera last month said any agency requesting department data must "sign and attest" they won't give information to ICE.
However, the ACLU, which opposes using such tech to share data, says a records request completed in Northern California this year from a similar ALPR system operated by a different company showed ICE gained access to a database to monitor more than 5 billion data points.
What they're saying: ACLU Colorado senior policy strategist Anaya Robinson tells us the public's right to privacy should be considered: "The community should have a say in whether or not they are willing to give that up."
Context: The devices, called automated license plate readers (ALPR), photograph car plates and feed them into a searchable database owned by DPD.
DPD credited the tech with helping reduce car thefts after a spike in 2022, and it says ALPRs helped investigations of more serious crimes, including two homicide cases.
81 law enforcement agencies throughout Colorado have access to data gathered by DPD.
How it works: The cameras photograph license plates, then compare them to those of cars flagged by other agencies in the state and across the country, Herrera said last month.
The devices can alert police in real time to the location of stolen vehicles, Herrera said. Data is retained for 30 days, but search records — basically, who conducts a query — are kept indefinitely.
It's up to individual agencies to decide who can access their data, Flock spokesperson Holly Beilin tells us.
Yes, but: Denver City Councilmember Sarah Parady tells us she has concerns about the proposed contract, saying: "I can't vote for this."
Her top concerns include:
Between the lines: Mayor Mike Johnston supports the expanded contract, with a spokesperson saying it will "help address auto theft without sacrificing our shared values and residents' privacy," per a statement.
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