WALHALLA — Oconee County Council on Tuesday gave final approval to an ordinance that prohibits mass surveillance systems on all county-owned property.
Though the ordinance encompasses all mass surveillance systems, both council and community dialogue has centered around license plate reading (LPR) cameras and LPR company Flock Safety.
The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and multiple municipalities within the county use Flock cameras. With the passage of the ordinance, Flock cameras and other mass surveillance equipment can no longer be placed or operated on county property or within county-controlled rights of way, and county funds, property, personnel, equipment or other resources cannot be used for such systems.
Council held a public hearing ahead of the final vote.
Drew Graham with Young Americans for Liberty told council the cameras “aren’t just watching criminals; they’re watching everybody.”
“We’re in America, and the government should have to have a reason to watch you and know things about you, not the other way around,” he said.
Graham later said no one knows how technology might advance.
“Just because the government seems harmless today, just because this system might seem...