Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) says its new automated speed cameras are not connected to the controversial Flock camera network south of the border. In a statement to CTV News, SGI explained that its new cameras are specialized for automated speed enforcement imaging. “They are not part of the Flock Safety automated licence plate recognition system,” SGI said in its statement. According to the Crown, the only information the cameras capture is the license plate, lane of travel, date, time and the speed being travelled when a speeding violation occurs. “These details are shared with authorized agencies, including SGI, Global Traffic Group, law enforcement and the courts, where necessary,” SGI added. There are 27 speed camera locations across Saskatchewan, notably in Regina, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw, as well as assorted units on Highways 1 and 49. The cameras are operated by Global Traffic Group, after the province’s previous vendor, Verra Mobility Systems, ended its agreement with SGI earlier than expected at the end of May. Flock Safety, a surveillance technology company and one of the United States’ largest providers of automated license plate readers, has recently attracted criticism from lawmakers, advocates and residents across the country. While the technology has been credited with helping crime-fighting efforts, and finding missing people, Flock has also received considerable pushback due to privacy concerns, hastened by a series of cases where law enforcement officers misused the system for personal searches. With files from The Associated Press
