Flock Safety operates the largest automated license plate reader (ALPR) network in the United States — and it's watching you right now.
Every time you drive past a Flock camera, it captures a high-resolution photo of your vehicle, reads your license plate, and logs the exact time, date, and GPS location. But it doesn't stop there — according to Flock's own FAQ, their cameras use machine learning to extract far more than a traditional license plate reader.
This isn't speculation — this is what Flock advertises. The data is stored for 30 days or more, shared across thousands of agencies nationwide, and can be searched by any officer with access — often without a warrant.
What a Flock camera captures every time you drive past.
Over 80,000 Flock cameras are deployed across 5,000+ cities. Your movements are tracked whether you're a suspect or not. You were never asked. You were never told.
ALPR misreads have led to families being pulled over at gunpoint, handcuffed, and detained — because the system confused their plate with someone else's. It has happened dozens of documented times.
Police officers have used Flock cameras to stalk ex-partners, track personal enemies, and monitor people with no law enforcement justification. Audit logs are rarely reviewed.
Flock data has been accessed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies, raising serious concerns for immigrant communities and sanctuary cities.
Most cities adopt Flock cameras with little to no public debate, no privacy impact assessment, and no policy governing how the data is used, shared, or retained.
Flock's newest product, NOVA, goes beyond plates — it creates a "vehicle fingerprint" that can identify your car even without reading your plate. This is where it's headed.
StopFlockSafety exists to educate and inform on the dangers of mass surveillance dragnets operated without meaningful oversight or accountability. If what you read here concerns you — good. Channel that concern into civic action: attend city council meetings, write to your representatives, file public records requests, and make your voice heard through the democratic process.
This site advocates exclusively for lawful, nonviolent civic engagement. We do not encourage or condone vandalism, threats, or violence of any kind toward law enforcement, policymakers, or property.
Civil-liberties, privacy, data-sharing and security concerns
Left Flock: Jul 2026“This contract is not being renewed because of serious concerns around civil liberties and civil rights issues, particularly around privacy and the data that is being collected from these cameras.”
— Dean Gialamas, LAPD Chief Information Officer
Council voted 3-2 to terminate after months of resident opposition
Left Flock: May 2026“After months of discussion and outrage from residents, the city council voted 3-2 to immediately end its contract with the surveillance company Flock.”
— Jason Koebler, 404 Media
City ended Flock use citing eroded trust in system integrity
Left Flock: May 2026“Concerns about the integrity of Flock's underlying system have eroded the city's trust in them.”
— Mayor Jake Woodford
Council voted 3-2 not to renew $315K contract; cameras go dark June 7
Left Flock: May 2026“The council voted not to support the renewal of the Flock contract in a 3-2 vote. Cameras will go dark on June 7.”
— Contra Costa News
Council rescinded contract after Flock misled officials on heat maps
Left Flock: Apr 2026“I don't know how I can make a decision or discern what's right and what's wrong, or even the capabilities of the system if you lie to me.”
— Deputy Mayor Karl Buelow
Mayor ended contract after months-long review; seeking alternatives
Left Flock: Apr 2026“This review made clear that if this tool is used, it must be used under narrow parameters, strong accountability, and clear public safeguards.”
— Mayor Kerry Thomson
Year-long controversy over ICE access to Flock data; replaced by Axon
Left Flock: Feb 2026Police audit found ATF, Air Force, and GSA Inspector General accessed data without authorization
Left Flock: Feb 2026Flock installed cameras without city awareness after Council suspended the system
Left Flock: Dec 202510-camera pilot expired and was not renewed; Chief publicly rebuked Flock CEO
Left Flock: Oct 2025“People have a right to disagree... That's how Democracy works.”
— Chief Michael Kochis
Flock shared data with CBP in violation of Illinois law; city called breach 'intentional and unauthorized'
Left Flock: Aug 2025Over 30 community groups pressured city council; audit found 20%+ of searches lacked documentation
Left Flock: Jun 2025Privacy concerns and lack of independent oversight
Left Flock: Aug 2023“We believe our residents deserve to know they aren't being tracked every time they drive through our town.”
— Chief Ronald Smith
A stale Flock alert tied an already-cleared vehicle to a homicide investigation, leading Brookfield officers to conduct a guns-drawn traffic stop.
Court records allege a former Katy officer used Flock cameras to track his ex-wife for more than six months and now faces felony charges.
A Deer Park officer admitted using Flock cameras for personal searches; a disciplinary memo records 165 searches of one plate with no active case.
An internal audit found alleged unauthorized use of Itasca police technology, including Flock; the officer is no longer employed and the matter was referred for review.
The Washington Post reports that Flock misuse went unknown to some police departments.
Public-records-obtained fusion-center bulletins show law enforcement tracking anti-Flock social-media posts and DeFlock events.