California’s ‘Danish capital of America’ plots new move on draconian surveillance of tourists

The self-described “Danish Capital of America” is revisiting its decision to surveil 5,000 residents and millions of visitors with AI-enabled cameras.

Solvang City Council had previously approved a three-year contract with XIT Solutions in July 2025 to install Verkada cameras at various sites, including Solvang City Hall & City Hall Annex, Solvang Park (outside the public restrooms), First Street, Alisal Road at Oak Street and Alisal Road at Copenhagen Drive.

However, officials will now re-examine their AI camera policy following growing public concern over surveillance systems like Verkada and Flock Safety.

“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.

Councilmember Orona highlighted, “[The] camera company has been hacked, and their super admin credentials have been compromised.”

She added that her request for review is in light of the city’s decision to introduce more AI tools, facial recognition and license plate recognition.

“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,” Councilmember Orona said.

A day after the Solvang City Council meeting, the Santa Barbara City Council also abandoned plans to sign a contract with Verkada until a comprehensive review of the city’s license plate reader policy is completed, Santa Barbara News-Press reported.

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