President Donald Trump admitted that he likes Flock cameras as the public remains divided on them.
“I sort of like them because of that, because of law enforcement, but some people don’t,” Trump told reporters when asked about Flock cameras abroad Air Force One. “They think it’s an infringement. I like them.”
The president was also asked about his position on artificial intelligence-powered license-plate reads and he didn’t give a clear answer.
“It’s being studied right now,” he said last month, according to The Washington Post. “We’ll have an answer … as to our views on it over the next couple of weeks.”
Flock cameras have been in the news over the past few months due to controversies and power overreaches.
Earlier this month, a D.C. police union alleged that the management at the Metropolitan Police Department improperly used data from a Flock license-plate reader.
“A system with such broad and extensive capabilities requires not only significant guardrails, but also full transparency with the public,” Union President Gregg Pemberton said in a statement. “The MPD has provided neither.”
Last month Flock Safety stated that changes would be made regarding anti-abuse safeguards after issues with the surveillance technology.
Investigations found that there was misuse of flock cameras by police, including officers who were accused of using the system for personal surveillance.