Solvang, which proudly calls itself the “Danish Capital of America,” is reconsidering a plan to monitor 5,000 residents and millions of visitors through AI-powered cameras.
In July 2025, the Solvang City Council approved a three-year contract with XIT Solutions to install Verkada cameras at several locations, including Solvang City Hall and the City Hall Annex, Solvang Park outside the public restrooms, First Street, Alisal Road at Oak Street and Alisal Road at Copenhagen Drive.
Mounting public concern about surveillance technologies, including Verkada and Flock Safety systems, has prompted city officials to take another look at Solvang’s AI camera policy.
“We said yes to an installation organisation, XIT Solutions … What we didn’t do was investigate what the camera technology really does and where the data gets stored and who has access to it and who’s governing that access to it,” Councilmember Elizabeth Orona said during the City Council meeting on Sept. 14.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Pope Leo Arrives at Hospital for Lung Nodule Removal Surgery
Orona also pointed to a security breach involving the camera company, saying, “[The] camera company has been hacked, and their super admin credentials have been compromised.”
She said her call for a review comes as Solvang considers expanding its use of artificial intelligence, facial recognition and license plate recognition technology.
“There is no California law in place for facial recognition anymore. So only our policy is in between the public’s expectation of some level of privacy and what we’re doing with that content and how we’re governing it and who has access to it and how secure it is,” Orona said.
The day after Solvang’s meeting, the Santa Barbara City Council likewise put plans to sign a Verkada contract on hold until it completes a comprehensive review of the city’s license plate reader policy, the Santa Barbara News-Press reported.
