Over 100 U.S. Jurisdictions Cancel Flock Camera Contracts as 46% Oppose Local ALPR Use
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Sep 5
Over 100 U.S. Jurisdictions Cancel Flock Camera Contracts as 46% Oppose Local ALPR Use
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Sep 5
Summary
More than 100 jurisdictions have dropped Flock Safety contracts as opposition to its license-plate reader network spreads across both parties and local governments.
Reports that police used the cameras to stalk ex-lovers and track abortion seekers, along with ICE access to the network, have fueled the backlash against a system that runs about 120,000 cameras and 2 billion scans a month.
46% of Americans now oppose ALPRs in their communities, up 13 points from a year earlier, while activists have organized protests, town-hall campaigns and even camera vandalism.
Republicans and Democrats are both escalating pressure: Greg Abbott blocked Texas agencies from buying Flock products, Josh Hawley opened a privacy-abuse probe, and Bernie Sanders and Ro Khanna back federal restrictions.
The revolt marks a rare bipartisan fight over surveillance technology, and privacy advocates expect more state and local cancellations even as some cities swap Flock for rival camera systems.