Idaho Falls City Council Limits Use of Flock Safety Surveillance Cameras

Flock Safety's network of automatic license‑plate‑reading (ALPR) cameras has been installed in multiple Idaho cities, prompting a public debate over privacy and constant monitoring. An interactive map and a third‑party app allow residents to locate the devices and plan routes that avoid them.

In response to resident concerns, the Idaho Falls City Council voted unanimously to amend its contract with Flock Safety. The amendment bars the company from using locally captured camera data to train artificial‑intelligence models. Law‑enforcement officers may still access footage for investigations of felonies, misdemeanors, traffic crashes, and searches for missing or endangered persons, and the data will continue to support traffic‑flow analysis. The council also directed the police department to improve documentation of data access and began exploring alternative camera systems.

Chief Bryce Johnson of the Idaho Falls Police Department said the department will update its recording practices to increase transparency. The contract change took effect after the mayor’s signature.