Durbin in Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Flock Cameras: “We Have Got To Find A Way To Balance Privacy And Security”

Durbin in Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Flock Cameras: "We Have Got To Find A Way To Balance Privacy And Security"

In his opening statement in today's Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism hearing, Durbin spoke about the need to adopt guardrails on Automated License Plate Reader technology to protect Americans' right to privacy

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an opening statement in today's Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism hearing entitled "Always Watching: Flock's Nationwide AI Surveillance Network." In his opening remarks, Durbin spoke about the importance of protecting Americans' right to privacy and underscored the need for meaningful oversight and accountability measures over Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) that have been unjustly used for federal immigration enforcement, to share information across state lines, or to stalk Americans.

Durbin also referenced the story of a witness in today's hearing, Lindsey Isaacs, who was wrongfully arrested and spent 13 days in jail on eight felony charges for a crime she did not commit. She was jailed after a Flock camera misidentified her car, yet it took seven months for the case against Ms. Isaacs to be thrown out.

Key Quotes:

"For the Flock CEO, obviously they are nervous about being on camera, but I wish they would have joined us today. It would be interesting to hear their explanation."

"The collection of information and data is what it's all about these days… Hard to imagine, but that [personal] information is being sold and collected constantly."

"I support law enforcement… We trust them with keeping us safe in our homes and in our businesses. We also value privacy."

"We also know that as we look at the information being gathered, this is nothing new. The volume of the undertaking is not new. The state of Illinois has had an ALPR, an Automated License Plate Reader, as part of their state effort to catch people on the tollway who don't pay their fair share. It's been around for a long time. It's been used to locate people that have gone missing, cars connected to crimes, and stolen vehicles."

"It all sounds good, and then you hear the story of Ms. Isaacs…When the so-called failsafe technology fails, and it certainly did in her case."

"We have got to find a way to balance, in America, privacy and security. I think there is a balance. Congress needs to lead the way."

Video of Durbin's opening statement is available here.

Audio of Durbin's opening statement is available here.

Footage of Durbin's opening statement is available here for TV Stations.

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