Stanford University has switched from Flock Safety to Genetec for its automated license plate readers following backlash from students, according to the university’s official newsletter this week.
There were 19 Flock cameras on campus. Flock service officially ended in late July, and the cameras have since been turned off and physically covered, according to university spokesperson Luisa Rapport. They will be replaced with Genetec equipment by early September.
Flock cameras take photos of license plates and can share data with other law enforcement agencies, but opponents worry that they can be used for surveillance. Some are also worried about potential violations of state law that limits the sharing of license plate data.
Stanford’s decision comes amid a wave of pushback against Flock from students. In May, students circulated a petition to remove the cameras. To date, the petition has collected over 1,000 signatures from Stanford staff, students, alumni and affiliates.
According to the university, Genetec’s system differs from Flock’s since it does not store captured images in the cloud for more than an hour. It would also not share data with third parties.
“Unlike the Flock system, the new system is designed for use within a single institution,” said Vice Provost Patrick Dunkley, as opposed to Flock, which allows clients to opt into sharing with other law enforcement agencies.
Students’ discomfort with Flock is part of a broader trend of backlash against the company. Bay Area cities such as Mountain View have already ended contracts with Flock, while San Jose is facing a lawsuit for its use of the service.
While Santa Clara County banned Flock as an automated license plate reader vendor back in February, the Stanford University Department of Public Safety, which is deputized by the Santa Clara County sheriff, did not immediately end its contract with Flock when the ban was put in place.
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