Editor’s Note: Legislative leaders in Alabama are taking note of the growing public concerns with public privacy issues vs. government surveillance of the public at large. The law enforcement use of a network of surveillance cameras, known as Flock systems is rapidly spreading throughout the country and in Alabama small towns. At least one Alabama legislator is speaking out publicly about the future use of these systems.
During Friday’s episode of Huntsville WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show,” State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) expressed concerns that Flock Safety cameras could be used for round-the-clock monitoring of U.S. citizens.
The lawmaker said he plans to introduce legislation next session to address the issue.
“I’ll have a very strict bill with warrants, audits, the whole works,” Orr told Jackson. “Law enforcement has come out strongly, wanting Flock Cameras. If the legislature, once we get together, the sense is we don’t want these at all, then that’s an easy amendment. There’s not a lot of work to put that together.”
He added, “This is a very, very serious debate and discussion, because as technology grows, this could morph into street cameras, sidewalk street cameras, and facial recognition. You’re walking down the street, and then the police can identify you. So, where are we going to draw the line on our liberties and what the government has a right to know or does know or can snoop on us, et cetera? Then you get into drones flying above, 24/7, monitoring movement around a city whenever they want to check up on you.”
Orr believes law enforcement could potentially disregard laws regulating the cameras, effectively turning much of the country into a “police state.”
“Are we going to really be tight on the warrant requirement? Are they going to just kind of scoff at it in law enforcement? Are they going to follow the law? There are a whole lot of questions that need to be answered because look at China,” he argued. “Look at these police states, these surveillance states, where they can surveil anywhere you go.”
Added Orr, “People don’t want that, and they’re concerned about it.”
Orr previously introduced a bill during the 2021 legislative session to limit automated license plate recognition systems in Alabama. Orr’s legislation passed the State Senate, but failed in the House..
Reprinted from 1819 News
