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Flock Safety implements new privacy safeguards for license plate readers
Flock Safety, a major provider of automated license plate readers (ALPRs), is implementing significant platform changes following reports of law enforcement misuse. Documented abuses, including officers using the technology to stalk individuals, have fueled privacy concerns and a growing movement to reject the surveillance system.
Key updates include reducing the default data retention period from 30 days to seven days and requiring officers to link every search to a specific criminal case number. The company is also introducing an automated audit tool to flag abnormal search activity. Additionally, new features will allow municipalities to restrict data access to prevent use in immigration enforcement.
Despite these measures, opposition remains high. More than 50 agencies and municipalities have canceled, suspended, or rejected Flock contracts since January 2026. Activists have engaged in direct action, including the destruction of cameras across multiple states. Critics, including the ACLU, argue that these changes do not address the fundamental issue of lack of judicial oversight.
Entities
ACLU · ACLU of Rhode Island · American Civil Liberties Union · Ben Zawacki · Christopher Walters · City of Surprise · Coshocton County · Coshocton County Sheriff's Office · Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office · DeFlock · Electronic Frontier Foundation · Flock Safety
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Sherburne County is discontinuing its service agreement with Flock Safety following a pilot program. 1390granitecitysports.com · praisehouston.com
- [● 10 SOURCES] The company is introducing a mandatory audit tool to flag abnormal search activity by law enforcement. theboxhouston.com · thecurrentga.org · wolbbaltimore.com · praisehouston.com · www.businessreport.com · +4 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley admitted the company took too long to act against police misuse of the technology. uzalendonews.co.ke · www.socialnews.xyz · praisehouston.com · 1390granitecitysports.com · wolbbaltimore.com · +2 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Winona Police Department will not replace eight Flock cameras that were stolen and sawed off. www.mandatory.com
- [● 14 SOURCES] Flock Safety is reducing the default data retention period from 30 days to seven days. theboxhouston.com · uzalendonews.co.ke · thecurrentga.org · wolbbaltimore.com · praisehouston.com · +8 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The City of Surprise has suspended its use of automated license plate readers pending an investigation into policy violations. arizonadailyindependent.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] New system updates will allow cities to filter data so it cannot be used for immigration enforcement. theboxhouston.com · www.businessreport.com · zhiphopcleveland.com · nemosnewsnetwork.com · www.brasilemfolhas.com.br
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office is removing all Flock Safety cameras due to resident privacy concerns. www.sciotopost.com · www.whiznews.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] More than 50 agencies and municipalities have canceled, suspended, or rejected Flock contracts since January 2026. nemosnewsnetwork.com · uzalendonews.co.ke · www.businessreport.com · www.piranot.com.br
- [● 10 SOURCES] Police searches through the Flock database will now require a criminal case number for justification. praisehouston.com · theboxhouston.com · www.businessreport.com · zhiphopcleveland.com · www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · +5 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Renton City Council voted against renewing its Flock contract and against turning cameras back on. www.auburn-reporter.com · www.bellevuereporter.com · www.covingtonreporter.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] Flock Safety is implementing new platform safeguards to address documented misuse by law enforcement. www.nyreport.com · praisehouston.com · www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · spotonalabama.com · nemosnewsnetwork.com