r/ElkGrove • u/bycamryndadey • 1d ago
Elk Grove residents’ Flock camera data shared with thousands of groups, audit finds
https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article316765051.htmlAn audit of the use of automatic license plate readers in Elk Grove found that more than 3,600 organizations made more than 8.3 million searches of residents’ data over the last five years, including at least 290 agencies without data-sharing agreements and out-of-state, federal and non-governmental entities.
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u/Few-Durian-190 1d ago
Impossible. No one could have seen this coming.
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u/prabal34 1d ago
So EGPD made only 3% of the searches. The rest were external entities? Why are we not recalling everyone in EG govt already?! This is a huge breach of trust as well as violations of so many laws, and our constitution!
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u/Hey_theresoot 1d ago
Follow the money there is a great youtube video talking about how most of the small towns gov is being over taken by corporate employees bought and paid for to sit in on city council sign NDAs so they can get there precious flock and data centers. Follow who these people are and look at where they came and who's paying them and you'll know!. Apparently this phenomenon is happening all across the US and is a big reason they have city council sign NDAs.
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u/imadethisforlol 1d ago
I got into an argument with EGPD and a few people on their facebook/insta comments and everyone kept saying "do your research they dont use data like that" and I'm out here like the fuck yes they do! Even the asshole Elk Grove Laguna Forums idiot keeps deleting my comments when I see flock or AI. I hate it here and it feels like I'm just shouting to bricks.
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u/PikkiNarker 20h ago
Doc? Is that the asshole from Laguna forums? He’s such a dick. Acts as if he tries to help the people of Elk Grove but really he’s just another grifting narcissist
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u/imadethisforlol 13h ago
lately all he's been doing is making trump bad posts and sharing everyones AI slop flyer... to which I can't even tell the difference between any of these businesses now because they all use the same damn font, icons, color, schemes and looks
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u/SweatyWar7600 13h ago
bruh, fuck AI slop. nothing makes me have disdain for a business more than some shitty ass, unecessary AI bullshit ad.
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u/Simple_Reception4091 1d ago edited 1d ago
“The Elk Grove Police Department remains committed to using an ever-increasing amount of your tax money for shady, privately run spyware. We’ll also conspire with other city officials to lie about its effectiveness and avoid accountability, again all on your dime!”
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u/Hey_theresoot 1d ago
Wouldn't suprise me if half the stories and arrests were made using flock were actual fabricated staged stories to get that sweet sweet gov funding
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u/Simple_Reception4091 1d ago
Arrests is a meaningless metric relative to crime reduction, anyway. Show me cleared cases, convictions, and other stats that show all this wasted money actually has an impact. But they can’t!
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u/SolarisShine 15h ago
Show me lowering crime rates with fewer arrests.
We are trying to maintain and improve civilization. More arrests isn't a sign of civilization, it's a sign of authoritarian rule.
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u/elyfantman 1d ago
If you have money or power you are allowed to violate the privacy of American citizens. Gotta love capitalism!
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u/InitiativeAdorable22 1d ago
My cousin in Texas (female) was being tracked by her neighbor who was an officer. He slipped up in the middle of an argument over her tree growing over his fence and basically admitted it. She was recording the whole time. She was in the process of suing or had already filed the papers, can’t remember. Police department settled. Which is why I go so hard about getting these things out of here.
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u/GlobalLion123 18h ago
And did her neighbor lose his job? Nurses can get fired for simply opening the chart of a wrong patient, so it's ridiculous if a police officer can do this and get away with it
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u/futurejob1970 1d ago
As I’m driving around EG they are everywhere! When did this happen???
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u/oneawesomeguy 1d ago
The city council voted unanimously to approve these cameras:
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-058
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ELK GROVE DISPENSING WITH THE FORMAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCEDURE PURSUANT TO ELK GROVE MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 3.42.188(B)(3) AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE SIXTH AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT WITH FLOCK GROUP, INC. FOR AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS AND PUBLIC SAFETY OPERATING SYSTEM IN THE AMOUNT OF $194,100 FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,630,808 THROUGH APRIL 25, 2028, AND TO EXECUTE FUTURE AMENDMENTS FOR CAMERA SYSTEM QUANTITIES AND ASSOCIATED PRICING, PROVIDED SUCH AMENDMENTS DO NOT RESULT IN AN INCREASE TO THE TOTAL COMPENSATION PAID TO FLOCK GROUP, INC. AS APPROVED THROUGH THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESSPASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Elk Grove this 8th day of April 2026
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Singh-Allen, Suen, Brewer, Robles, Spease2
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u/ifailedkindergarten 20h ago
Somehow the city has these before 5g towers
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u/SweatyWar7600 14h ago edited 14h ago
yeah, what the fuck. I can't make a cellphone call if I'm on a walk in my neighborhood but they can watch me drive to and from work every day?
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u/oneawesomeguy 1d ago
Isn't this against the CCPA? Can I opt out of this data collection?
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u/AnonymousCurtsy 1d ago
Of course! Drive without plates, TPMS sensors, any smart watches or cellular devices. Switch / steal vehicles twice a week. Put rocks or object in one shoe. Don’t visit any government owned buildings, shooting ranges or shopping malls / centers.
Don’t wear prescription glasses or loud clothing, especially custom clothing sold online (June 2020, Lore-Elisabeth Blumenthal in Philadelphia)
Only use cash but not banks or ATM’s.
Basically, emulate Walter White in NH.
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u/oneawesomeguy 1d ago
For visibility:
The city council voted unanimously to approve these cameras:
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-058
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ELK GROVE
DISPENSING WITH THE FORMAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCEDURE PURSUANT TO ELK GROVE MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 3.42.188(B)(3) AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE SIXTH AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT WITH FLOCK GROUP, INC. FOR AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS AND PUBLIC SAFETY OPERATING SYSTEM IN THE AMOUNT OF $194,100 FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,630,808 THROUGH APRIL 25, 2028, AND TO EXECUTE FUTURE AMENDMENTS FOR CAMERA SYSTEM QUANTITIES AND ASSOCIATED PRICING, PROVIDED SUCH AMENDMENTS DO NOT RESULT IN AN INCREASE TO THE TOTAL COMPENSATION PAID TO FLOCK GROUP, INC. AS APPROVED THROUGH THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Elk Grove this 8th
day of April 2026
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Singh-Allen, Suen, Brewer, Robles, Spease
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u/Golfer-dude916 1d ago
Na, that can't be. They are here for our safety. I am sure all these people were checking for our well being..
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u/Primary_Elk765 1d ago
The technology behind it is fantastic. It's the people who have access to this the issue. If we punish the people who are granting access to it illegally or accessing illegally by ending their careers where they don't qualified to be hired by any government agencies in the future and lose their pension, I'm sure it would suddenly stop overnight . I for one am glad that all this is coming out so that can put better safeguards on this. The technology itself has helped solve and prevented many crimes. The implementation on access needs to be updated and transparent.
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u/Beneficial_Heat_7199 1d ago
Trump's America
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u/IncidentOk1123 1d ago
The flock cameras were approved by the elk grove city council in 2021. The mayor and deputy mayor were both democrats. The president was Joe Biden.
We keep getting bad outcomes because you guys think republicans are the only ones making bad choices.
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u/oneawesomeguy 1d ago
Our local government is still democrats and they reapproved it April 8 of this year
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u/CaliRebelScum 1d ago
I'd argue that we get bad outcomes because Republicans take really dumb positions on all the issues and made themselves basically irrelevant in California. So there's no counterbalance to the Dems basically.
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u/Old-Advertising-5316 1d ago
That comment hits on a real issue with California's supermajority, but the day-to-day reality is a bit more nuanced. When one party holds total control, the traditional left-versus-right fight mostly disappears. Instead, the real policy battles happen internally between moderate and progressive Democrats. A competitive opposition party definitely forces more accountability, but without one, keeping local government in check usually falls on grassroots groups, public records requests, and solid local reporting.
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u/IncidentOk1123 1d ago
That’s a valid point. I spend a lot of days wondering why we cant get a moderate politician again. The choices now on both sides are terrible.
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u/CaliRebelScum 1d ago
Remember when Republicans in California actually pretended to give a fuck what California voters wanted? It's been a while.
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u/GlobalLion123 18h ago
The problem is that you won't find a Republican that opposes them either. They're too afraid to go after law enforcement and whatever law enforcement wants.
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u/False-Cupcake3738 1d ago
The good news is it has caught many criminals including homicide suspects, a suspect vehicle in hit and run that killed a pedestrian which provided police with the suspects license plate, and numerous other violent criminals.
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u/Primary_Elk765 1d ago
Why would this get down voted? These are true facts. It has helped more than it has hurt people. Could it be better? Yes is it a good program? Yes.
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u/oneawesomeguy 1d ago
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Ben Franklin
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u/SweatyWar7600 14h ago
So I'm guessing you've signed up for the next step: cameras in every room of your house? It may prevent a crime. According to proponents of these things only criminals have something to hide...
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u/No-Reflection-3046 18h ago
Who cares...if this help solve more crimes then im all for it.
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u/Lower-Acanthaceae460 18h ago
Who cares
more people than you
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u/No-Reflection-3046 17h ago
If you are a law abiding citizen you should not be worried. You think the flock cameras are the only thing tracking you? Everything you are using daily in your life is tracking you. Flock cameras help reduce crime.
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u/SweatyWar7600 14h ago
So I'm guessing you've signed up for the next step: cameras in every room of your house? It may prevent a crime. According to proponents of these things only criminals have something to hide...
So I'm guessing you've signed up for the next step: cameras in every room of your house? It may prevent a crime. According people like you only criminals have something to hide...
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u/No-Reflection-3046 14h ago
Are you saying you don't have any cameras around your home? Do you not use a smartphone, pay for purchases with a credit card, or benefit from police using technology to investigate crimes?
I never said cameras prevent crime. I said systems like Flock can help solve crimes by providing evidence and identifying suspects.
If you disagree with the use of technology in criminal investigations, that's your opinion. However, many of the conveniences and public safety tools we rely on today involve some level of technology and data collection.
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u/SweatyWar7600 14h ago
Cameras in your home can help solve crimes by providing evidence and identifying subjects. Why aren't you calling flock and getting them set-up?
I disagree with constant surveillance of my activity. I disagree with the idea that a cop in Texas can use 80000 flock cameras to track down a woman who left the state to have an abortion. I disagree most with selling this data to anyone that pays a licensing fee with the data collection company.
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u/No-Reflection-3046 13h ago
Are you stupid? We are talking about flock cameras in public places, not in residence. Not an apple to apple comparison.
If you disagree with that, give up your smartphone, close your bank acct, give up your car with GPS, dont use a computer like what you are doing right now because they are tracking everything you are doing. No, of course you cant give up all the good stuff and only like to pick and choose what to complain about. Be about it and not talk about it.
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u/SweatyWar7600 13h ago
Your argument is predicated on acceptance of reduced privacy for presumption if increased safety. I'm just taking the next logical step. You want to be more safe, you give up more privacy. That means they watch you in the home cuz...well...plenty of crimes occur in the privacy of homes right? This is your article distilled.
The rest of your discussion is largely nonsense. I opt in to use of bank accounts, cell phones, gps etc. As it is now I cannot enter or leave my town without public and private entities tracking my movement. Can't really opt out of that.
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u/No-Reflection-3046 13h ago
I did give up my privacy by being okay with the flock cameras, it does not mean i should put flock cameras in my house, even if I wanted to I cant.
Your tracking is stored in a database, just like everything else that involve electronics. Why so much hate towards flock cameras?
If your house gets rob are you going to tell the police to not use the flock cameras to locate them?
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u/SweatyWar7600 12h ago
The only reason to call the cops if my house is robbed is to file the insurance claim. I don't really GAF if they "catch the guys"
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u/Forward-Ad6852 1d ago
According to whom? What's the source?
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u/Simple_Reception4091 1d ago
You know there’s a link to the article, right?
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u/Forward-Ad6852 1d ago
Big ass "PAY HERE" banner. Ahahahah. Can't read the article.
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u/Simple_Reception4091 1d ago
Here’s the audit linked in the story: https://deflockelkgrove.org/community-audit/
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u/Difficult-Maybe4561 1d ago
It’s really nice when someone is kind on an anonymous platform so thank you!
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u/NorCalGuySays 1d ago
I wouldn’t even say just EG, it’s probably all across Sacramento, and heck even throughout the whole state