S.C. attorney general demands answers from Flock on AI, privacy

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson is requesting more information from Flock Safety on its privacy and security policies.

In an Oct. 2 letter to Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley, Wilson said he wants to learn more about Flock’s use of artificial intelligence, access to Flock’s data , and Flock’s data retention policies.

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Wilson said he supports law enforcement efforts to use the tools in their crime-fighting efforts.

“But even the best tools have the potential for misuse,” Wilson said. “And given Flock’s broad reach, covering more than 120,000 cameras across 49 states, the stakes are particularly high.”

The attorney general said Flock has built-in restrictions on data access. To learn more about the restrictions, he has requested the following questions to be answered by the CEO:

• Does Flock employ any form of artificial intelligence in identifying vehicles or people?
• What restrictions does Flock place on access to data?
  • Does Flock help facilitate sharing data across multiple customers, including government agencies, to a “broader network?”
  • Who can access this “broader network” of data?
• Does Flock impose any mandatory data retention policies, and if so, what are these policies?

Langley has 30 from Oct. 2 to respond, according to the letter.

Wilson is running for South Carolina governor against Democratic candidate Rep. Jermaine Johnson.

Johnson gave the following statement regarding Flock cameras:

“I do not support Flock cameras; they are a clear-cut example of government intrusion. The people of South Carolina do not want the government in their business. We’ve seen time and time again the mishandling of these cameras, with individuals involving themselves in our citizens’ most intimate moments. I will not support these cameras unless we establish guidelines and allow the General Assembly to craft them. If anyone misuses these cameras, they must be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”