Larsen's Surveillance Support Sparks Protest Outside His Home

Protesters gathered in San Francisco on Friday as part of a national week of action against automated license plate readers, calling for cities to cancel contracts with Flock Safety and remove surveillance cameras. The demonstration was directed at cryptocurrency billionaire Chris Larsen, CEO of Ripple, due to his financial support for surveillance initiatives in the city.

Larsen has invested heavily in surveillance technology in San Francisco, including a $9.4 million philanthropic grant to the city to procure additional surveillance tech. Protest organizers argued that Flock cameras are not an effective solution to public safety and pointed out that investing in affordable housing, jobs, and social services would be more beneficial.

Luc Bouchard, an organizer with the Sunrise Movement Bay Area, stated, 'There's not much evidence that flock cameras significantly impact crime rates.' The group also displayed a mock surveillance camera bearing the message, 'Does this make you feel safer, Chris?'