Lisandra Vazquez, an Atlanta comedian, shared a video on Wednesday that appears to show a police officer standing in an Ulta Beauty store, sparking outrage among shoppers about the company's use of Flock Safety surveillance cameras at some locations. Ulta has over 1,500 stores and uses automated license plate readers at fewer than 1% of them to investigate crime. At least 50 law enforcement officers have been accused or charged with misusing similar camera networks. Civil liberties group UltraViolet is calling on Ulta to cut ties with Flock and deactivate the cameras, citing concerns about mass surveillance and its potential consequences for marginalized groups.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Ulta Beauty stores are installing surveillance cameras from a company called Flock Safety, which allows law enforcement to access footage of customers' license plates. Comedian Lisandra Vazquez first revealed the presence of these cameras at an Ulta store in a video posted online on Wednesday. An Ulta spokesperson claims that only about 1% of their 1,500 stores have Flock Safety cameras installed, which are used to investigate crimes such as organized retail theft. However, this has sparked outrage among shoppers who feel they are being "stalked" by the presence of police officers in these stores. The controversy comes amid a larger issue of at least 50 law enforcement officers accused or arrested for misusing similar surveillance technology.
Written for “Beauty Stores Install Surveillance Ca…” on 2026-09-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 3994 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-04
Ulta Beauty is facing backlash from shoppers over the cosmetics giant allowing Flock Safety surveillance cameras at some of its stores.
asserted
giant → face → stores
The controversy started Wednesday when Atlanta comedian Lisandra Vazquez shared a video of her shopping at Ulta and alleged that “Ulta Beauty is one of Flock Camera’s biggest commercial customers.”
“Come with me to the Ulta-mate place for beauty and surveillance.
asserted
Beauty → start → beauty
Their shelves are so stocked, I don’t even mind being stalked.
asserted
I → mind → ?
Hi, officer,” Vazquez said in the video, panning to a man who appeared to be a police officer standing in the store.
asserted
who → say → store
It is unclear what Ulta location she is shopping at.
uncertain
she → shop → location
An Ulta spokesperson told The Independent that the company, which has more than 1,500 stores and overwhelmingly female shoppers, uses automated license plate readers at fewer than 1 percent of its stores to investigate elevated crime, particularly organized retail theft.
asserted
which → tell → crime
The cameras do not use facial recognition and access to the data is strictly controlled, according to the spokesperson.
uncertain
access → use → spokesperson
Flock camera use at Ulta was first reported by Retail Dive.
asserted
use → report → Dive
At least 50 law enforcement officers have been accused, charged or arrested for misusing Flock and similar license plate reader networks to track and stalk women, including wives, partners and ex-girlfriends, The Washington Post reported last month.
asserted
Post → accuse → wives
The cameras are controversial because they use AI to automatically track and log drivers’ movements without a warrant.
asserted
they → use → warrant
Vazquez’s post caught the attention of civil liberties group UltraViolet, which launched a campaign titled “Hey Ulta: Mass surveillance isn’t pretty,” calling on the retailer to cut ties with Flock and deactivate the cameras.
asserted
surveillance → catch → cameras
“At a time when women seeking reproductive healthcare, immigrants, protesters, journalists, and others are increasingly being monitored and targeted, the consequences of Flock’s mass surveillance system are staggering,” the organization said in an Instagram post.
asserted
organization → seek → post
“We shouldn't have to trade our privacy and safety for a trip to Ulta.”
asserted
We → have → Ulta
Meanwhile, customers flooded the comment sections on Ulta’s official Instagram, also expressing concerns over the alleged Flock surveillance.
asserted
customers → flood → surveillance
“Hey Ulta, we don’t want to be surveilled at your store.
asserted
we → want → store
Also stop deleting comments about it,” wrote one person.
asserted
person → stop → it
“Well aren’t we all just FLOCKING to ultra!
asserted
we → flock → ultra
My favorite part of makeup is when a cop stalks me because @ultabeauty wants women to be unsafe.
asserted
women → stalk → me
Thanks guys!” another person wrote.
asserted
person → write → ?
“I’m a regular customer at Ulta & I won’t be shopping here until you terminate your flock camera contracts.
asserted
you → ’m → contracts
We deserve better from you,” a third said.
asserted
third → deserve → you
