The mayor of Asheville wants the city to cancel its contract with the Flock camera systems credited by police as a major public safety factor, but denounced by its critics as a massive invasion of privacy.
Mayor Esther Manheimer says, her proposal to cancel the contract is based on conversations with Asheville residents as well as experts. Her comments posted on social media came in response to a city council resolution that reaffirmed a responsibility for protection of civil liberties in the collection and use of the Flock system's data.
The mayor acknowledges its public safety advantages but also says the city needs to do more, in her words, "to make sure this technology is not moving faster than we are."
If the contract is terminated, Asheville's eleven Flock camera installations will be removed, and the Asheville law enforcement will also give up its access to the system's database. The issue will be revisited at city council's August 25th session.
That meeting's agenda is expected to be posted by noon Friday.
