Flock Camera Abuse, Research Digest

Date saved: 2026-10-19 03:00 (PDT)

Sources: ACLU, The Hill, USA Today, NPR, Washington Post, GovTech, Clarion Ledger, DeFlock

Key findings

The Hill (August 26, 2026): Two Phoenix suburbs (Tempe and Cave Creek, Arizona) became the latest municipalities to terminate their contracts with Flock Safety, canceling their use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs). Tempe had an $80,000 contract and cited mounting reports of data "misuse" in other regions; Cave Creek cited "several high-profile abuse cases reported locally and nationally, as well as a recent theft of a FLOCK camera." More than 90 cities, according to antisurveillance organization DeFlock, have made moves to cancel or reject Flock ALPRs. (Source)

NPR (August 22, 2026): More than 130,000 automated license plate readers can be found in cities and towns across the country, according to the crowdsourced database DeFlock.org. About 100 cities have deactivated cameras, rejected deals, or cancelled contracts. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called the increasing use of ALPRs "out of control" during a press conference, saying "I don't want to have this become a surveillance state." (Source)

GovTech: Between August 2021 and May 2026, 82 Flock contracts were terminated in 28 states, according to reporting by the San Francisco Standard, 39 of those between January and May 2026 alone. A new Washington state law now limits use of Flock readers and their data to felony investigations and other immediate needs. (Source)

ACLU (July 2, 2026): Flock Safety repeatedly lied to city councils, police departments, and the public. In Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the company told the city council its ALPR system did not create heat maps of vehicle movements, then admitted the next day that it did. The council voted to revoke its contract in one day, setting a record for the shortest time between approval and cancellation. The ACLU documented a pattern of Flock misleading officials about federal data sharing, immigration enforcement access, and privacy protections. The Institute for Justice has cataloged more than 200 incidents of ALPR abuse, including stalking, wrongful stops, and non-law enforcement use. Since the beginning of 2026, over 200 cities have terminated their contracts; in August, cities terminated contracts at a rate of more than three per day. (Source)

USA Today / Washington Post (August 2026): A Washington Post investigation found more than 50 law enforcement officers had been accused, charged with, or convicted of misusing ALPRs for unauthorized purposes, including stalking past partners without consent. More than 20 police agencies have launched investigations, suspended or fired officers, or filed criminal charges for misusing Flock after USA Today reporting. In one case, a police officer allegedly searched his ex-girlfriend's license plate number 124 times and her former boyfriend's plate 55 times. (Source)

Clarion Ledger (October 16, 2026): Jackson, Mississippi Police Chief RaShall Brackney announced the department would not renew its contract with Flock Safety, citing privacy concerns. The contract had been approved in September 2024 for 16 license-plate readers citywide. More than 50 officers nationwide have been charged for policy violations involving Flock readers. (Source)

The Hill (August 26, 2026): Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) launched an investigation into Flock's national surveillance network, naming multiple instances of "abuse and misuse of personal data." Flock announced new privacy and data retention policies including an "Audit Assistance" feature and a "proactive lockout" feature that automatically suspends access if a user's activity meets a threshold for abnormal behavior. (Source)