Community forum addresses Flock camera surveillance, data center concerns in Tuscaloosa

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) - A community forum focused on surveillance took place in Tuscaloosa Thursday as concerns continue to grow around the country with Flock license plate cameras and data centers.

Indivisible West Alabama hosted the forum at Grace Presbyterian Church. The group focused on license plate readers appearing around Tuscaloosa County.

Neighbors are asking who gets the data, what exactly is recorded and how many Flock cameras are already in place.

Organizers plan to bring questions to leaders

Organizers are collecting those questions and plan to take them to city and county leaders. They said they are not against public safety but want a better balance with privacy.

“There’s a difference in catching you run a red light and then just watching what you’re doing all day every day when you leave your neighborhood or somebody comes to see you or whatever. It’s very big brother,” a concerned neighbor said.

“I hope that the community sees that we all have a voice. That we’re able to actually take these discussions and turn them into real valuable things. Get people engaged in our local politics and actually see that change be fulfilled,” said Erin McMahan, a leader with Indivisible West Alabama.

State lawmakers could take up new Flock camera rules as early as the 2027 session.

Data centers also discussed

Data centers were also a topic during the forum, especially with what’s happening in nearby Brookwood.

Neighbors there are pushing for more transparency and answers about environmental impacts. WBRC has been tracking the proposed data center project there for weeks.

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