YAKIMA, Wash. – Yakima residents recently voiced concerns over the use of flock cameras by law enforcement during a city council meeting. A petition with more than 500 signatures is calling for a temporary halt to the program.
These cameras are used by law enforcement to track stolen cars, locate missing people and build crime timelines. However, a recent court ruling in Washington State has classified flock camera recordings as public records. This ruling has raised privacy concerns among residents.
A community member highlighted the risks of public access to surveillance data. “Allowing unrestricted public access to mass surveillance data directly conflicts with the Yakima police policy, which is supposed to limit how flock data is used and ensure it’s tied to legitimate investigations,” they said.
The availability of this data to the public means that anyone can request it, not just law enforcement. Those supporting the petition say this could lead to people being tracked, profiled or harassed, and sensitive trips to places like clinics or shelters being exposed.
Residents are worried about the extent of data being tracked by flock cameras. The cameras capture more than just license plates, taking multiple high-resolution images that show vehicles, passengers, locations, time stamps and identifiable details.
Those who signed the petition are urging the city to pause the program while addressing these concerns. “I urge the council to immediately review Yakima’s use of flock cameras, strengthen privacy protections and put safeguards in place so this data cannot be used. In the meantime, they must pause the use of these cameras,” said a concerned resident.
The city of Yakima is currently in the early stages of reviewing the petition.
