A State of Surveillance: Crossing the Line of Privacy?

By Elliot McMullin, Cooper Schwartzman, and Tony Sanseverino '27

Starting as early as June 15, 2026, residents of Wethersfield may have seen traffic cameras powered by artificial intelligence on the Silas Deane Highway or Berlin Turnpike. Operated by the company Altumint, these cameras are designed to capture images of traffic violations and issue citations by mail.

AI-powered traffic cameras, commonly referred to as Flock cameras, are used to automatically read license plates of passing vehicles and use AI to log vehicle data into a searchable database. They take high-resolution still photos of vehicles in violation of laws, but standard automatic license plate reader models do not record continuous live video.
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Controversy regarding the company Flock Safety arose in the past year throughout Connecticut, and some residents impacted by these surveillance cameras claim that their Fourth Amendment rights are being violated.

Debates have sparked among students at Wethersfield High School regarding the usage of these AI-powered cameras and how they affect the safety of locals.

Interviews across Wethersfield High School revealed divided opinions among students and staff.

"I think that they're terrible, tracking our every movement; you already track my stuff online," said Jillian Cianfaglione, a senior who recently received a ticket in the mail.

The potential inaccuracy of AI-powered cameras has brought up concerns about how legitimate these charges are. "The officer that signs off doesn’t even look at the actual violation, they just sign off on it," Cianfaglione continued.

However, Officer Knapp, a local police officer and school resource officer, disputed the idea that drivers are fined by AI, stating that charges are typically reviewed by real people in order to filter out false charges.

Knapp also stated that he feels so nervous about his speed that he often takes a different route in order to avoid these traffic cameras, citing that he knows others do the same.

As Wethersfield continues its contract with Altumint, the town of Windsor recently terminated its contract with Flock Safety on July 6, 2026.

The decision followed growing community and council concerns regarding privacy, data sharing, and surveillance. Windsor was the first municipality in Connecticut to cancel its contract with Flock Safety over these data and privacy concerns, followed shortly by Killingworth. They are scheduled to be physically removed in the fall of 2026.

As AI-powered traffic cameras present a controversy in the previously quiet town of Wethersfield, finding a middle ground between safety and privacy will remain a challenge for both the town of Wethersfield and its residents.

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