By admin 
YORK COUNTY, S.C. (WJZY) — Flock cameras are becoming more common across the Carolinas. They’re aimed at giving law enforcement another tool to investigate crimes, locate stolen vehicles, and find missing people.
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But as the technology expands, so does the conversation surrounding it.
“Invasion of privacy, if you ask me,” said York County resident Kym Givens.
Flock cameras or license plate readers. Atlas of Surveillance, a police tech company, says York County has had at least 16 since last September.
But recently, devices like a Flock camera just outside of Winthrop University have caught people’s attention. All of the people we spoke with Tuesday say the cameras could create more harm than good.
“A lot of those kids go to school. They don’t have a South Carolina way because they’re here to go to school. So you get in other people’s license plates that there’s all around,”
“I didn’t know anything about the Flock cameras, but it’s like invading my privacy, and I don’t like that,” said York County resident Malikah Alexander
In a social media video, York County Sheriff Tony Breeden is speaking about the questions and concerns he’s heard about the cameras from residents.
Breeden says the cameras will only be used when investigators are looking for criminals who just committed a crime — nothing more.
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“These things will only be used to catch criminals in the act,” said Sheriff Breeden.
“But they still have to do their job and find the criminals themselves. That’s invading our privacy, because even though we’re not doing anything we’re not supposed to be doing, you’re still recording all the time. There’s so many cameras around here nowadays,” said Emmie Richardson.
Sheriff Breeden says since the cameras have been in use, it’s helped deputies solve more than 250 cases, including armed robberies, larcenies and searches for missing people.
He says his office will have safeguards in place to prevent deputies from misusing the system.
“Our main priority is to protect the county, and we’re going to use these tools to continue to protect the county,” Sheriff Breeden said.
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