Eyes Off ALX

👋 Hi there #AlxSkeets! You may have wondered who is behind Eyes Off ALX - We are Alexandria neighbors who nerd out (prob too much) on law, tech, and government. We’re channeling it to help improve our city's tech decisions + protect your privacy, security, and rights. Learn more at EyesOffALX.org!

Flock cameras are item 12 TONIGHT. Removing Flock isn't enough if council swaps in another unvetted vendor with the same issues. Today is the day to speak out and message council if you agree. Eyes Off ALX has a sample email you can use here: eyesoffalx.org/act#write

👏 Councilman Elnoubi lays out a city plan for ALPRs that EyesOffALX.org applauds: 1. Turn off Flock now 2. Weigh privacy risks of ALPRs against claimed utility 3. Build transparency, public input, and oversight for city surveillance tech We will keep speaking out so others follow his lead soon!

👀 ALPR ban in AZ … Meanwhile in ALX, APD wants to keep Flock around while drafting more ALPR “guardrails." But guardrails can’t fix tech whose risks outweigh its claimed benefits. ALX doesn't want toothless guardrails. It wants privacy protected and public input. If you agree, 📧 the city today!

Huge turnout at the S. Washington St No Kings protest today! 🙌 Even though Flock ALPR cameras loomed just down the street - it was encouraging to meet so many Alexandria neighbors who are ready to get these cameras out of our city. This is what community looks like. 👏🏼

Why does ALX still have Flock cameras? A big reason: too few people understand that tech companies' incentives often work against local priorities and values. Bringing "tech civics" into our schools AND providing city stakeholder training would be so helpful…

for some ppl privacy arguments don't resonate. 'nothing i do is illegal.' ok sure. but the case against surveillance goes beyond individual privacy. it's also abt the huge risks unregulated companies & governments pose to society, and as shown in this illuminating WSJ story, national security.

#ALXSkeets Can you spare an hour tonight? APD is hosting a Flock community listening session @ 6:30. Right now there is no clear timeline to move forward with change. Urgency to act comes from people showing up and sharing their concerns. Please help fill the room @ the Patrick Henry Rec Center!

An automated license plate reader system goes live Friday in the parking garage at Park + Ford, a 435-unit apartment building on Ford Avenue, over the objections of 109 residents who signed a petition asking management to stop it.

People around ALX “actually don't want convenience at the cost of our privacy, safety and wellness.” It’s just common sense.

APD says ALPRs don't do facial recognition. But once the data exists, third parties can AI-augment it with personalized profiles, including racial and gender analysis. Was that risk weighed before these cameras went up in ALX? No. ALX must take ALPRs down now and build a real review process!

Yes, the lack of US data privacy is a big issue. But our local gov can take meaningful action to improve privacy today. Massive amounts of VC money are pouring into surveillance tech companies like Flock BECAUSE that data access is uniquely valuable! It’s not the same as data on your cell phone!

Alert: Seats still available right now at the APD public meeting re: Flock. If you are in Del Ray, please come to Duncan Library and show APD the community is concerned about unaccountable mass surveillance tech deployed in our city!

Alert: Eyes Off ALX needs your help TODAY (9/24)! APD’s delayed clarifications on its ALPR policy do NOT acknowledge tech risks/harms. We need folks to show up and demand real accountability. Meet us tonight @ 5:30pm Pork Barrel, then come w/ us to APD’s 6:30pm public session @ Duncan Library!

If you want an excellent primer on why Flock needs to get out of ALX (and should not be replaced), watch today’s Senate hearing: www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_yM... We will be sharing key points from the hearing @ the Eyes Off ALX meetup tomorrow, 9/24, 5:30pm at Pork Barrel BBQ. Hope to see you there!

Alert: Eyes Off ALX needs your help tmrw (9/24)! APD’s delayed clarifications on its ALPR policy do NOT acknowledge tech risks/harms. We need folks to show up and demand real accountability. Meet us tmrw, 9/24 @ 5:30pm Pork Barrel, then come w/ us to APD’s 6:30pm public session @ Duncan Library!

Regarding AI - also ALPRs - xkcd.com/2030/

ALL OF THIS. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Eyes Off ALX members have been making these points to city stakeholders for MONTHS! There is no reason ALX should still have a contract with Flock, an irresponsible tech vendor who the city’s designated tech advisors argue is ACTIVELY harming Alexandrians. Enough already.

Mark your calendars. ALX police department has said it has identified two tentative dates for community listening sessions on Flock and ALPRs, Sept. 24 and Oct. 7, at locations on the east and west sides of the city. We will send updates with more information, so be sure to sign up at EyesOffALX.org

EyesOffALX will be making a public comment tonight. You should join us! DM if you want ideas for Flock/ALPR comments framed for IT Commission interests. Or, if you can’t join today, go to EyesOffALX.org and sign up for email updates on these types of community feedback opportunities!

They are called “license plate readers”, but much more than license plates can be captured…. Don’t be fooled!

Power requires checks and balances: Convincing a judge with evidence and probable cause. Public transparency on motives behind and use of powerful tools. Independent auditors. ALX needs real checks and balance protections for surveillance tech in this city. Not just “audits” by the audited.

On the city’s current ALPR “transparency”portal: - It doesn't list what Alx police can search. - The Alexandria Sheriff's Office operates its own readers, doesn't appear on the Alx police list, and publishes no portal at all. - We have “two agencies, one city, half a picture.” 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Feels like a good day to share on topic hope and a pinch of whimsy.