ACLU of Wisconsin Reacts to Newly Announced Milwaukee Oversight of Surveillance Technology

MILWAUKEE – ACLU of Wisconsin Policy Director Amanda Merkwae released the following statement:

“The reforms announced today regarding the use and oversight of Flock by the Milwaukee Police Department is certainly welcome news. These changes are a testament to the tireless advocacy work of so many Milwaukee residents who have for over a year been coming together, attending public meetings, and demanding action to stop the relentless cycle of Flock abuse.

But we cannot stop here. While this is a step in the right direction, Flock is still an incredibly invasive technology that has the power to indiscriminately surveil our communities on a mass scale. Its use should require a warrant based on probable cause.

We cannot only accept a solution where police are responsible for policing themselves. We still need independent oversight, written policies that establish a formal regulatory framework for all police surveillance technologies used or proposed by MPD, safeguards against abuse, and standards that guarantee democratic accountability and transparency.”