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With Flock cameras meeting strong opposition in cities like Huntington and Morgantown, the West Virginia Citizen Action Group (WVCAG) hopes to get ahead of any future efforts to spread surveillance technology statewide.
Several dozen people turned out Thursday night in Charleston to learn more about the use of automated license plate readers or ALPRs and surveillance tools used across the state.
“One of the worries I have about this technology is undue investigations without warrants,” Shawn Phillips, a WVCAG spokesperson, said. “Even if somebody was or was not doing anything wrong on a street corner, I don’t think that justifies watching everyone.
There are currently no plans to introduce Flock cameras in Charleston or Kanawha County, according to the mayor’s office and several city and county officials. But the city does have one stationary license plate reader and seven in-car dash cameras with passive license plate reading capabilities.
Phillips said they hope to put up guardrails that will limit the storing of sensitive or personal data and prevent invasive tracking equipment, including the third party software that allows law enforcement agents to be able to track individuals without a warrant.
“They can tell when you left your house, where you went, how long you stayed there, who you spoke to, what you did while you were there, when you got home, every stop you made along the way. I mean, they can create a map of your travel across state lines as well,” Phillips said. “And one of the issues with the third party technology is we don’t know then who has access to that level of information.”
Charleston City Councilman Emmett Pepper said at the meeting he’s working to prevent facial recognition, Bluetooth technology and biometric technology that can identify and track people via their unique walking gait.
Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, was also on hand.
“I’d like to see regular audits, so we can see who accesses these reports, and there needs to be something in code that puts up some guardrails,” Pushkin said. “Legislation has been drafted [for the upcoming 2027 legislative session] and I’ve seen it. I’d like it to go even further.”
Another public meeting will be held on Thursday, Sept. 17, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1105 Quarrier St.in Charleston.