The vibe check is in: Solvang is rethinking its surveillance game.
Known as the 'Danish Capital of America,' Solvang is hitting pause on its plans to roll out AI-enabled cameras across town. City officials previously signed a three-year deal with XIT Solutions back in July 2025, planning to set up Verkada cameras in high-traffic spots like City Hall, public restrooms, and major intersections. But after realizing they lowkey ignored the risks, the City Council is now reconsidering the whole thing.
Wait, why the sudden change?
Real talk: local leaders are stressed about how much data these systems actually collect. During a Sept. 14 meeting, Councilmember Elizabeth Orona admitted the city messed up by saying yes to the tech without doing the homework on data storage and privacy.
Orona didn't mince words, pointing out that the camera company has been hacked before, which is a major red flag. She noted that because California currently lacks specific laws governing facial recognition, the city is basically flying solo on privacy protections for its 5,000 residents and millions of tourists. The concerns aren't just about cameras; they’re about AI tools, facial recognition, and license plate readers that could be tracking your every move.
It’s giving 'tech gone wrong,' and it seems other cities are noticing, too. Santa Barbara is also hitting the pause button on its own Verkada contract until a full review of their license plate reader policy is finished.
Why it matters
This is a massive W for privacy advocates. With no statewide laws in California to keep facial recognition tech in check, the burden is falling on local city councils to decide where to draw the line between public safety and your right to not be tracked by AI. If your city is looking at similar tech, this is your sign to start asking questions about who has the keys to that data.
