Eyes Off CR Update: FOIA Progress, Council Support, and What's Next
It has been quiet on our end, but only because we've been busy behind the scenes: filing records requests, coordinating with city officials, and expanding our surveillance transparency efforts beyond Cedar Rapids.
FOIA Update: Cedar Rapids Responds After Eight Weeks
After nearly two months, the City of Cedar Rapids responded to our public records request. With the help of Councilman Dale Todd, who stepped in to move things forward, we received a $40 quote for the email export, which we've paid and are now awaiting.
Our request had three parts:
- Activation of the public portal
- All city emails related to Flock
- Access to the monthly audit report
The first two were approved. The third was denied, and when we asked for access to the public audit portal instead, that too was denied.
We sent screenshots of the audit portal showing anonymized data like hashed user and officer IDs, dates, reasons, and camera numbers, none of which is personally identifiable. Similar information is already public via the CRPD blotter.
The city's reasoning doesn't hold. Iowa Code Chapter 22 doesn't apply here. We are publicly asking CRPD to reconsider or provide a valid legal explanation.
Organizing Across Iowa
In addition to our continued local campaign, we are now preparing to take this work statewide. Our team is organizing an effort to file records requests and map Flock camera locations across Iowa. This includes identifying active deployments, seeking access to audit logs, and advocating for full public transparency.
If you are in another Iowa city and want to get involved, reach out. We are building a coordinated effort to raise awareness about the dangers of these surveillance systems.
National Context: Denver Votes to Pause Flock Contract
On May 5, the Denver City Council voted unanimously, 12 to 0, to pause its contract with Flock Safety. The decision reflects growing concern about the company's lack of oversight and the broader implications of automated surveillance. Cities across the country are starting to push back. Read more here.
We believe Cedar Rapids can and should do the same.
New Tool: AI-Powered Photo Analyzer
To help illustrate the capabilities of modern surveillance systems, we've launched a new educational tool. The tool simulates how AI can extract insights from a single traffic image, from make and model to inferred demographics and risk factors.
It's a glimpse into how surveillance can go far beyond license plate recognition, often without the public realizing it.
Get Involved
We're calling on anyone concerned about the rise of surveillance to help:
- File local FOIA requests
- Monitor and attend city council meetings
- Help map surveillance infrastructure
- Share our findings and tools
We're also in need of financial support to continue this work. Outreach, printing, and digital advertising all come with costs...those are currently coming out of pocket. If you find value in what we're building and want to see it grow, please consider making a donation. Every contribution helps keep this project going.
Contact us at eyesoffcr@proton.me to get involved or contribute directly using the support button below. Our work is only beginning.