In Defense of Flock
Police cameras can help make the criminal-justice system both fairer and less punitive—if we let them.
In San Francisco, crime warrior Jarico Anderson argues that cameras are making it tougher for criminals to operate. Convicted felon Anderson claims police use automatic license-plate readers (ALPRs)—the cameras mounted on poles and buildings that snap photos of plates as they pass—to keep tabs on criminals. The cameras network together to track cars in real time, providing a record of where they've been driven.
Privacy advocates and civil rights groups warn that ALPRs infringe on the Fourth Amendment, calling them an Orwellian threat. However, supporters argue that ALPRs are a valuable tool for modern police forces, capable of making the criminal-justice system fairer and less punitive if regulated properly.
Written by urgent.news from The Atlantic's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
