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Ohio Rep. Karen Brownlee is right. Lawmakers MUST make changes to put in place safeguards against the abuse of automatic license plate readers and other surveillance technologies. Brownlee, D-Symmes Township, is asking for an indefinite pause on the use of Flock cameras in the state following the indictment of Sharonville Police Lt. Walter Cordes on charges of unauthorized use of a computer or telecommunication property. He is alleged to have searched the department's Flock camera system 29 times to track someone he knew for personal reasons, according to a report by WLWT. “Ohioans deserve to know that technology intended to promote public safety will not come at the cost of their right to personal privacy,” Brownlee said. “The abuse of Flock surveillance cameras represents a serious breach of public trust and raises broader concerns about the use of AI and surveillance technology. While this case showcases the actions of a single person who broke this trust, the case represents a larger issue facing the state.” While Brownlee did praise Sharonville Police for their quick action and transparency in working with Hamilton County prosecutors and deputies on the matter, she is correct to want better rules in place to protect against such abuse in the first place. “I implore my colleagues in the Statehouse to pass comprehensive legislation during the upcoming lame duck session to protect against further misuse or abuse of ALPR and to require that technology companies are transparent, limited in their scope on personal data collection, and incorporate automatic safety tools into their products," she said this week, according to WLWT. Ohioans understand law enforcement has legitimate uses for the new tools at their disposal. But we must expect those tools will be used without intruding upon our rights and privacy. Certainly, they must not create greater danger for victims of crimes such as those Cordes is accused of committing. Technology is evolving more quickly than anyone could have anticipated just a few years ago. Lawmakers must not move at their customary glacial pace to rein it in on our behalf.
SCRIPTURE
I exalt you, my God the King, and bless your name forever and ever. I will bless you every day; I will praise your name forever and ever. Psalm 145:1-2 CSB