Jim McGaw

PORTSMOUTH — Widespread privacy worries — from potential data breaches to the expansion of government surveillance — led the town council last week to unanimously delay a request from the Rhode Island State Police to install a Flock Safety license plate reader camera in town.

The council voted 7-0 to table the matter until the State Police return with a completed memorandum of understanding (MOU) that spells out who owns the camera data, how it may be shared and what safeguards would prevent misuse.

The proposed device is part of a statewide rollout of 39 Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras. Capt. Marc A. Alboum of the Rhode Island State Police, who presented the request, said the state wants to install one in Portsmouth and must secure a municipal a

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