The camera network installation comes as the violent crime index in one city rose by 21 percent, robbery 38 percent, and vehicle theft by 44 percent.
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the installation of hundreds of cameras in Oakland and East Bay in an effort to improve public safety, a move criticized as creating a surveillance state.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has entered into a contract with Georgia-based crime-fighting tech firm Flock Safety to install roughly 480 high-tech cameras in a bid to “combat criminal activity and freeway violence,” according to a March 29
press release from Mr. Newsom’s office. Out of the 480 cameras, 290 are expected to be deployed in and around Oakland while 190 will be installed along state highways in East Bay. “The camera network will use a patented technology that allows law enforcement agencies to identify vehicle attributes beyond license plate numbers.”
The network enables law enforcement “to search for crime-linked vehicles by vehicle type, make, color, license plate state, missing/covered plates, and other unique features (e.g., bumper stickers, decals, and roof racks).”
The network also comes with real-time crime alerts that inform authorities when a vehicle suspected of being involved in a crime is spotted by the camera. Mr. Newsom’s office claimed the cameras will assist in countering crime while protecting privacy interests.
“The network will employ a limited 28-day retention period, camera footage will not be disclosed to third parties beyond California law enforcement, and the network will be compliant with recent legal bulletins issued by the California Department of Justice to ensure the storage, collection, sharing, and use of the data is consistent with California law.”
Mr. Newsom said the new investment will contribute to boosting public safety while “tackling organized crime and roadway violence” in Oakland. The camera network will give law enforcement the tools necessary to “effectively combat criminal activity and hold perpetrators accountable,” he said.
The announcement comes as crime rates spiked in Oakland last year. According to
data from the Oakland Police Department, the city’s violent crime index rose by 21 percent in 2023 from the previous year. Aggravated assaults rose 9 percent, robbery 38 percent, burglary 23 percent, and motor vehicle theft by 44 percent.
Mr. Newsom’s announcement has come under criticism. “Y’all don’t even go after real criminals right now … All you’re doing is creating a surveillance state like China for more control,” podcast host Hodgetwins
said in a March 30 X post.
Biotech entrepreneur Houman David Hemmati
pointed out, “You know very well that criminals use plate covers or stolen plates when committing crimes.”
“These cameras are used to target the rest of us and follow our movements. Even if you did catch thieves, they wouldn’t be prosecuted & you’re closing prisons—so what’s the point?”
Political commentator Anthony Hughes
said, “I love how the [sic] California thinks installing cameras will somehow make Californians safer. ‘Don’t worry, we got the crime on video.’”
Crime in Oakland
California’s move to equip Oakland with more cameras comes amid rising public concern about violent crimes in the city, especially against women.
During a community meeting last year that was attended by hundreds of people, several citizens
recounted tales of being subjected to violent crimes. Speakers at the meeting expressed frustration; they said police in Oakland are subjected to too many restrictions.
In a February
interview with California Insider, LeRonne Armstrong, a former police chief who served with the Oakland Police Department for more than two decades, said the city’s public safety faces challenges.
Oakland’s police force is shrinking and its officers are being subjected to stringent restrictions that limit their ability to combat crime effectively, he said.
“When you think about a city that’s growing, but a police department that’s shrinking, it is a recipe for disaster.We don’t want to live in a society where everybody needs to be armed. The image of the city has to change.”
“The city has been a part of my life. Oakland built me—such a beautiful city. There are so many areas in that city to be proud of, but all people know about the city is violent crime.”
Out-of-control crime is negatively affecting Oakland’s businesses, pushing away people from the city. On Jan. 31, Denny’s restaurant chain
shut its outlet in Oakland, with the company citing concerns about employee safety.
Earlier that month, burger chain In-N-Out also announced the closure of its Oakland location after employees and customers were victims of armed robberies, theft, and car break-ins.
On March 28, the CEOs of four of the largest employers of Oakland
announced a $10 million security enhancement collaboration to protect employees and improve public safety. The announcement was made by Blue Shield of California, The Clorox Company, Kaiser Permanente, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).
