Are Troy’s License Plate Cameras Invasive? The City Is Split.

We live in an age of surveillance. Whether it's security cameras in every building, cell phones with 4K cameras, or glasses that can discreetly record any conversation you're having, it's hard to find a moment where you're not being recorded.

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Now, a schism is forming in Troy, debating on whether one of the city's surveillance systems is ethical or not.

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The Argument Against

This is all about Troy's Flock Safety license plate-reading cameras. There are 26 in the city, and they're currently up for renewal. Many city residents have voiced their concerns over these cameras, stating they're invasive, and the data collected from it could end up anywhere.

Concerns have also arisen from the fact that they don't just read your license plate. They map the streets, and can identify any make and model of a car after just a second or two. In an age where we don't know where our data is going, this is a valid fear to have. Your daily life captured, and held... somewhere?

The Argument For

Obviously, there are many who are for these cameras. Many stand behind the fact that these are solely to catch crime in the area, and without them, rates will skyrocket.

Troy Mayor Carmella Mantello sees this as an early attempt to defund the Troy Police department entirely, and that this will lead to a slippery slope.

What do you think? Is this an overreach of privacy or just the thing we need to keep our city safe? Let us know!