Albany Development News

Albany Public Safety Committee Reviews Automated License Plate Reader Program Amidst Transparency and Data Privacy Concerns

The Public Safety Committee received an update on the Albany Police Department's Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) program, including its competitive bid process for new vendors, risk reduction strategies, data sharing protocols, legal framework, research findings on ALPR effectiveness, and transparency measures. The department is transitioning from a sole-source procurement to a request-for-proposal (RFP) process to ensure competitive bidding and compliance with city values. Key discussions focused on data retention (30 days), access controls (geographic priority zone), transparency audits (online network audits), and legal compliance with state laws like SB 34 and SB 54. Concerns were raised by the public and council members regarding data privacy, potential for data misuse, vendor accountability (Flock), the limited scope of peer-reviewed literature, and the applicability of findings to a smaller city like Albany. The department highlighted efforts to enhance data protection, including restricting access to agencies within a geographic priority zone and auditing search activities. The RFP process aims to identify a provider that meets public safety needs while aligning with Albany's values. The committee is to provide direction or recommendations to the city council based on this update. A subsequent contract award is expected by September 2026.