Flock Cameras Face Rising Backlash as Privateness Considerations Attain Capitol Hill – Decrypt

Public opposition to Flock Security’s automated license plate reader cameras is spreading from metropolis council conferences to Capitol Hill as lawmakers put together laws focusing on federal funding for companies that deploy the know-how whereas communities throughout the nation rethink its use.

The protests come amid mounting proof that Flock’s know-how has been utilized in methods critics say lengthen properly past its acknowledged function of investigating crimes and finding lacking folks.

A latest report by The Institute for Justice recognized over two dozen instances nationwide wherein officers resigned or had been arrested for allegedly utilizing automated license plate reader programs to stalk present or former romantic companions.

In February, Milwaukee prosecutors charged an officer accused of utilizing the system to trace a romantic associate and her former associate. In July, an inner affairs detective who investigated that case was arrested after authorities alleged he additionally used Flock to trace folks for private causes.

Privateness advocates additionally cite broader makes use of of the know-how. The Digital Frontier Basis says companies searched license plate databases throughout protests, together with the No Kings protests in 2025. That very same 12 months, the group reported that Texas deputies queried Flock information throughout an abortion investigation that authorities initially described as a missing-person case.

Opposition has additionally moved past public conferences. Throughout June and July, activists throughout the nation spray-painted, taped over, disabled and destroyed Flock cameras in protest of automated surveillance. The Guardian recognized at the very least 33 incidents throughout 23 states. On-line communities have shared digicam maps, suggestions for avoiding the units and strategies for obstructing them, whereas a number of folks now face prison costs after allegedly destroying a number of cameras.

Based in 2017, Atlanta-based Flock Security sells internet-connected license plate reader cameras that robotically {photograph} passing automobiles, learn license plates, and use pc imaginative and prescient to determine traits corresponding to a car’s make, mannequin, shade, decals, roof racks, and different distinguishing options. Collaborating legislation enforcement companies can search the database throughout prison investigations, obtain alerts when automobiles linked to instances cross a digicam, get well stolen automobiles, and find lacking folks.

Flock says its cameras don’t use facial recognition and usually retain information for 30 days except native legal guidelines require a distinct retention interval. CEO Garrett Langley stated the corporate takes privateness issues critically and believes many critics rethink their views as soon as they perceive how the know-how works.

“As soon as they perceive what the know-how truly does, not what it would do in 50 years, not what somebody thinks it might do, however what it truly does day in and day trip, it takes an image of a automobile. Most individuals go, ‘This makes a number of sense. I would like my youngsters to be secure,'” Langley instructed ABC7.

In a publish on X on Saturday, Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie stated that he plans to introduce laws that will withhold federal funding from municipalities and legislation enforcement companies that deploy automated license plate reader programs, together with Flock cameras.

The proposal follows a sequence of disputes over Flock cameras throughout the USA.

In St. Petersburg, Florida, 77-year-old Carl Gunn has drawn consideration by staging solo protests beneath Flock cameras, holding an indication that blocks their view.

“That is simply one other factor to take our data and to spy on us,” Gunn instructed information outlet Artistic Loafing Tampa Bay. “I’ve a constitutional proper to my privateness. I’m a law-abiding citizen, and I don’t want anybody sticking their nostril in my enterprise. And in the event that they do, I’m going to cut it off.”

In Fresno, California, residents packed a group discussion board to induce metropolis officers to take away Flock cameras, arguing the know-how permits broad authorities surveillance. Police defended the system, saying it helped investigators clear up murder and capturing instances and emphasizing that it doesn’t use facial recognition.

“We have now to discover a steadiness between security and liberty,” Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto reportedly stated.

Nevertheless, not all legislation enforcement companies are on board with utilizing Flock cameras and are re-evaluating their use of the know-how. On Thursday, the Los Angeles Police Division suspended its partnership with Flock over issues involving privateness, information sharing, safety, and contract phrases. Monroe County, Indiana, additionally voted to finish its contract a 12 months early, regardless of commissioners acknowledging the cameras had helped clear up severe crimes. Earlier in July, Leon County, Florida, delayed funding for added Flock cameras after residents questioned how the info is collected, saved, and shared.

The scrutiny has prompted a response from the corporate. Earlier this month, Langley apologized for beforehand describing anti-Flock activists as a “terroristic group,” saying the feedback had been a mistake and that the corporate has spent extra time listening to critics whereas making an attempt to steadiness public security and privateness.

“My feedback had been a mistake, and I apologize,” he instructed Forbes. “There are teams in the present day which have actual legitimate criticisms of the enterprise, and I feel what’s modified for us is, as we have listened to them and heard them out, what we’re making an attempt to do is locate this steadiness. We consider in a world the place we will have security and privateness.”