A recent YouGov survey conducted across the U.S. has revealed that opposition to police surveillance cameras now outweighs support. The survey, which polled 20,000 people, found that 46% of respondents opposed the cameras in their communities, compared to 38% who supported them. This marks a shift from last year, when a majority of respondents were reportedly in favour.
The findings, shared exclusively with The Washington Post, also indicated that more respondents did not believe the surveillance would enhance their sense of safety. The backlash comes amid reports of alleged police abuse of surveillance cameras, leading to several U.S. communities rejecting or cancelling contracts with companies like Flock.
Flock, which operates over 120,000 license plate readers across the U.S., has acknowledged that public support for its technology "isn't unconditional." The company's CEO, Garrett Langley, recently called for a "compromise" between surveillance and privacy, following an increase in vandalism targeting Flock cameras.