San Francisco Swears In Surveillance Camera Network as Newest Police Commissioner
City leaders say the cameras have earned a seat at the table, and also every other table in every room they can see.
At a ceremony Tuesday, the city clerk administered the oath of office to a utility pole mounted with forty-two Flock cameras, officially seating the network as the newest member of the San Francisco Police Commission. Supporters say the appointment simply formalizes a role the cameras were already playing.
"It has the best attendance record of anyone on this commission," said a city spokesperson, before admitting the cameras had technically been present for every meeting, in every room, for the past three years. "We felt it was time to give that labor some recognition."
The commission's newest member will not speak during meetings, cast votes, or submit the usual financial disclosure forms, though officials note it has already produced hours of footage of commissioners filling out other paperwork. A proposal to let the network file its own budget requests directly to itself is reportedly under internal review by the network.
Civil liberties groups have raised concerns about a camera system holding governmental authority over the very residents it photographs, but the city maintains the arrangement is temporary, pending a performance review the cameras will also be recording.