Gov. Ron DeSantis urges oversight of Flock Cameras, says it's 'out of control'

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is calling for stricter oversight of automated license plate reader technology, expressing concerns about its impact on privacy and the potential for misuse. "I think these cameras, the license plate readers, I think it's out of control," DeSantis said. Flock cameras, which use automated license plate recognition technology, capture vehicle plates and record details as cars pass by. While law enforcement and Flock argue the technology provides critical information for solving crimes, DeSantis acknowledged its usefulness but warned against allowing it to create detailed records of people's movements without proper oversight. He emphasized the importance of protecting privacy in Florida. "Whether it's online with digital surveillance or whether it's with cameras, at what point are we going to be free and not have to deal with any of that? And so I think it needs to be overhauled for sure," DeSantis said. The governor referenced the AI Bill of Rights he supported during this year's legislative session. Although the bill passed the Florida Senate, it was not considered by the House. DeSantis also mentioned New Hampshire's legislation as a potential model for Florida. New Hampshire's law specifies the crimes for which law enforcement can use license plate reader data, prohibits using the data as the sole source of reasonable suspicion, and requires that data be deleted after three minutes unless connected to an active case. DeSantis is now urging lawmakers to determine clear boundaries for the use of this technology. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV