U.S. cities reconsider Flock Safety surveillance contracts

Multiple municipalities across the United States are re-evaluating or terminating their contracts with Flock Safety, a provider of AI-powered automated license plate readers (ALPRs). The decisions follow growing public concern regarding privacy, data security, and potential misuse of surveillance technology.

In Santa Barbara, the City Council has tabled a decision on replacing Flock cameras with a system from Verkada. While the Flock contract has expired, officials are weighing whether to adopt Verkada, which would keep data within the city’s own control rather than a shared network. In Sheboygan, police officials have requested the termination of their Flock contract, citing actions by the company that undermined community trust.

Other jurisdictions are also taking action. Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen announced he is firing Flock Safety due to a loss of trust in the company’s business practices and data handling. In New Bedford, the City Council passed motions to physically remove or cover existing cameras pending an audit. Meanwhile, Huntington is working to establish strict guardrails for a previously approved $2.1 million Flock contract, and Palo Alto activists are protesting the use of the technology amid calls for an independent audit.