Eugene, Oregon sued over refusal to disclose locations of automated license plate readers

According to KOIN, the ACLU filed the lawsuit late last month on behalf of Eyes Off Eugene member Seth May, who says the city’s secrecy surrounding the 57 Flock Safety surveillance cameras “erodes public trust.”

According to court filings, May submitted a public records request in mid-June seeking the camera locations. City officials denied the request weeks later, citing an exemption in Oregon’s public records law.

May appealed the denial to the Lane County District Attorney’s Office, but the DA upheld the city’s decision, ruling that the public interest in disclosure did not outweigh the reasons for keeping the locations confidential.

The lawsuit challenges that decision, arguing that federal law enforcement agencies have previously accessed data from Flock cameras, including for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.

“Mass surveillance through the use of technology like Flock cameras presents a dangerous threat to every Oregonian’s privacy and rights to be free from invasive and unjustified government searches into our personal lives,” said Kelly Simon, ACLU of Oregon’s legal director.

Simon emphasized that these risks are amplified amid “extreme levels of federal aggression” toward immigrants, transgender individuals, and people of color, as well as those exercising their First Amendment rights.

Earlier in July, Sen. Ron Wyden announced that Oregon had reached an agreement with Flock Safety to safeguard residents’ data from “abusive access by out-of-state law enforcement agencies.” Wyden cited anti-abortion investigations and ICE activity as key concerns behind the arrangement.

Public opposition has also grown locally. In July, Eugene residents launched a petition calling on city officials to terminate their contract with Flock. In response, the Eugene City Council voted to pause the use of ALPRs beginning October 14, while officials continue to evaluate the city’s contract with the company.

The controversy extends beyond Oregon. In Auburn, Washington, city officials recently learned that US Border Patrol had accessed data from the city’s Flock Safety camera network, reportedly to track suspected illegal aliens involved in criminal activity.

According to KOMO News, the Auburn Police Department said it was unaware of the federal access and quickly moved to disable the system’s “National Lookup” feature, which allows data sharing across jurisdictions.

In a statement, the department stressed that it had “not knowingly allowed, nor will we allow, direct access” to federal immigration agencies, insisting the system is “strictly for legitimate criminal law enforcement and public safety purposes.”

Mayor Nancy Backus defended the city’s response, emphasizing that “the integrity of our public safety systems, and the trust our community places in them, is non-negotiable.” Auburn Police also pledged to conduct monthly audits of camera usage and revoke access for any agency using data “for immigration enforcement purposes.”

Critics, however, argue that by cutting off federal access, Auburn is prioritizing politics over public safety, limiting tools that could help identify and apprehend dangerous offenders, regardless of their immigration status.