WATCH: Padilla Hears Damning Testimony on Flock Surveillance Camera Misuse

WATCH : Padilla: “Flock claims that it does not partner with ICE…But we know that ICE is still able to access Flock data” WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, raised serious concerns about Flock surveillance cameras, particularly their misuse for immigration enforcement. At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Padilla questioned Chad Marlow, senior policy counsel from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) about the widespread use of Flock technology among local, state, and federal officials as well as the private sector. Padilla also raised concerns about Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers’ ability to access Flock data despite Flock’s claims that it does not contract with ICE. Key Excerpts: PADILLA RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT FLOCK DATA SHARING WITH ICE PADILLA: Broad data sharing with ICE: Is it happening or is it not happening? Flock claims that it does not partner with ICE, and ICE does not have direct access to Flock cameras, or their systems, or their data. But we know that ICE is still able to access Flock data through state and local law enforcement agencies that have entered into agreements, cooperative agreements, with ICE, known as 287(g) agreements. So, can you explain in more detail how these agreements can function as a loophole for ICE or other immigration enforcement agencies to access data that they otherwise couldn’t? […] MARLOW: I would point out Flock seems to change its story week to week. It’s hard to even remember. But they did say for a long period of time, that ICE does not have direct access to Flock data, and that was true. But the key word there is “direct.” Exactly. And so, it doesn’t even take a 287(g) agreement, although that’s obviously a major problem. All it takes is one officer in one department who is a customer of Flock and participates in their nationwide data-sharing program, and you get a call from, be it ICE or any other federal agency, that says, “Hey, can you run a search for me?” And either because they believe in the cause that that federal agency is pursuing, or they just want to be on good terms with them because they may need something from them tomorrow, they say, “Happy to help.” And Flock never acknowledges that no security procedures that’s put in place do anything to protect against the misuse of its system. PADILLA: The question becomes how do we close that loophole? MARLOW: You ban them, sir. You ban them. Video of Padilla’s remarks is available here . ###