We rejected Flock at the Oakland Privacy Advisory Commission in October.
We rejected Flock at the Public Safety Committee in November.
We rejected Flock at the Rules & Legislation Committee less than 2 days later.

Oaklanders have stood up in overwhelming numbers to reject OPD and Flock Safety’s $2.25M surveillance expansion in Oakland. From everyday residents to city-appointed privacy experts, the Mayor and City Council has received compelling evidence and testimony showing the dangers posed from this private surveillance company:

• Over 5,000 letters to Mayor and Council expressing concern at the cost of Flock surveillance technology that the city’s own privacy experts warned lack meaningful protections for our privacy and constitutional rights.

• Over 70% of Public Safety Committee e-comments opposing Flock over its history of using stolen data points, it’s willingness to lie about the effectiveness of its technology, and it’s collaboration with the Trump Administration.

• Over 200 speakers waited over 6 hours to voice opposition to Flock while naming plenty of proven safety alternatives affordable for $2.25M.

• A joint letter from over 40 Oakland-based and Bay Area organizations highlighting the dangers Flock’s contract poses to our migrant neighbors, abortion-seekers, gender-affirming care patients, local workers and small businesses alike.

• A new lawsuit from privacy experts alleging OPD illegally used Flock technology that violated both Oakland and California’s sanctuary protection laws.

When OPD and Flock — aided and abetted by Councilmembers Ken Houston, Charlene Wang — attempted to force it through on November 20th, Council President Kevin Jenkins and Councilmember Roweena Brown promised the public that OPD and Flock would need to start over back at the Public Safety Committee and use the democratic process like everyone else. JENKINS AND BROWN LIED!!

Just 3 weeks later, they voted to ignore transparency and bypass democracy,
forcing through this dangerous $2.25 million contract…
DURING A SPECIAL AFTERNOON MEETING TIME…
JUST BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS!!!

This is more than a privacy issue — it’s about safety, sanctuary, and power. Consolidating OPD’s public camera surveillance network with private camera feeds — including doorbell cameras and Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) data — into one massive, privately-owned, warrantless database system accessible to over 5,000 agencies nationwide—including ICE and the Trump administration. We know how this story goes: once the infrastructure is built, they will come for it.

Forcing this surveillance vendor on Oaklanders is not a “safety issue” for Houston, Wang, Brown, Jenkins, and Unger—this is a comfort issue being blurred by selfish interests in the Oakland Police Officers Association, some wealthy activists living in Piedmont, and San Francisco tech billionaires bank-rolling their campaigns through Empower Oakland and the Abundance Network.

So for the last time in 2025, we need you to tell City Council:

WE NEED REAL SAFETY, NOT EXPENSIVE GIMMICKS!
GET THE FLOCK OUT OF OAKLAND!