KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) – Knox County officials say they have developed a temporary fix after Flock Safety informed the county it will not meet a previously established deadline to remove its license plate reader cameras.
According to Knox County Mayor Betsy Henderson, Flock notified county leaders that the cameras will not be removed by the Sept. 16 deadline. Instead, the company now expects to complete the removal process by Oct. 7.
In response to the delay, Henderson announced the county has created what she described as a “personal privacy shield” that will be placed over the cameras until they can be taken down.
The move is intended to prevent the devices from collecting information while they remain installed throughout the county.
In a social media post, Henderson said the county’s solution was designed to protect residents’ privacy during the extended removal period.
“Don’t worry, we found a cost-effective way to protect your rights, now,” Henderson wrote.
The announcement comes as county officials continue efforts to remove the Flock camera system following ongoing public discussions and concerns surrounding the technology’s use and data collection capabilities.
While the cameras are expected to remain physically in place for several additional weeks, county leaders say the privacy shields will ensure the devices are unable to gather information before their removal.
Flock has not publicly detailed the reason for the delay. The company now has until Oct. 7 to complete the removal process.
Knox Co covers Flock Cameras since manufacturer missed deadline ( Mayor Betsy Henderson)
