Bozeman, Mont. — AI-powered Flock cameras are drawing attention in Montana as communities weigh public safety benefits against privacy concerns.
These cameras can do more than capture a passing vehicle. They can identify a car’s make, model, color, and license plate number. Flock cameras are designed to track license plates, mainly to help law enforcement investigations and support public safety. The data collected by the cameras is deleted after 30 days.
The number of cameras varies from city to city in Montana. In and around Billings, there are 24 Flock cameras, the highest total mentioned in the state according to deflock.org.
Bozeman police say that even though these cameras can assist in law enforcement investigations, the department does not have plans to use the technology. The department also told NonStop Local it can sympathize with concerns in the community about privacy rights.
Captain Benjamin King with the Bozeman Police Department says he understands why people may be skeptical about the technology and what it does.
“Not only am I a law enforcement officer, but I'm a citizen as well. So, I completely understand, I wouldn't want any of my information you know, being somewhere where it shouldn't be. So, I totally understand those concerns. We obviously take as a law enforcement agency, as a Bozeman law enforcement agency, take privacy very, very seriously,” said Benjamin King.
People who want to learn more about how Flock cameras work can visit flocksafety.com