Ironton City Council is considering legislation to ban contracts with Flock Safety and similar surveillance camera companies, citing privacy and data security concerns.
An Ironton City Council member is drafting legislation aimed at prohibiting the city from entering into contracts with companies that provide mass surveillance camera systems. This initiative arises from concerns regarding privacy, data security, and the potential for wrongful accusations.
Councilman Troy Scott has been researching automated license plate reader technology, commonly referred to as Flock cameras, after observing a growing trend of communities adopting these systems in recent months. The proposed ordinance seeks to prevent the city from forming agreements with companies that operate mass surveillance camera networks, although it would not affect private businesses.
“I started looking into the technology, and it just seemed like something we should preemptively get in front of and have some discussions about before anything was considered contractually with the city,” Scott stated.
Scott emphasized that the measure is designed to protect residents’ privacy rather than to restrict traditional law enforcement tools. “It’s about the privacy of our citizens. It’s about making sure their data is safe. It’s about making sure they’re not accused of crimes that they didn’t commit,” he explained. “The pros definitely do not outweigh the cons.”
According to Scott, the draft ordinance was discussed during a recent strategic planning meeting that included Mayor Sam Cramblit, Police Chief Pam Wagner, and other city council members. Feedback from these officials helped shape the proposal, which is expected to receive its first reading at the next council meeting scheduled for July 23.
Scott expressed confidence that the measure has broad support among city leaders. “Everyone had some great input on the draft of legislation. We all worked together. Everybody had some great questions and some great suggestions,” he noted. “Working collectively as a whole and with the support of the mayor and the chief of police, I feel very confident that we’ll be looking at passing it next week.”
This proposal comes amid a growing debate over Flock Safety’s automated license plate reader technology across Ohio and neighboring states. Privacy advocates have raised concerns about how long vehicle data is retained, who has access to it, and whether these systems could be utilized for widespread surveillance beyond criminal investigations.
The discussion has intensified in recent weeks, with Cleveland city officials contemplating an extension of their contract with Flock Safety while incorporating stronger privacy safeguards. In contrast, Ironton is moving in the opposite direction by seeking to prohibit such agreements altogether.
If approved, the ordinance would position Ironton as one of the first municipalities in Ohio to explicitly ban contracts with companies offering mass automated license plate reader systems.
According to The American Bazaar, the implications of this legislation could set a precedent for other cities grappling with similar privacy concerns.