Ulster County bans Flock surveillance cameras

Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger has signed Executive Order No. 5 of 2026, prohibiting county departments and employees from using Flock cameras and similar artificial intelligence-assisted surveillance technologies.

The order aims to balance public safety with the protection of residents' constitutional rights and personal privacy. The county cited concerns regarding the capabilities of modern surveillance, noting that systems like Flock can use automated tools to analyze data from multiple sources and integrate it with external information.

Additional concerns raised in the order include the potential for security breaches and the risk of unauthorized data sharing with outside parties. Metzger noted that the Ulster County government does not currently own, license, or deploy surveillance technology with these specific capabilities.