Flock Surveillance Controversy

What happened

The outlets' own sentences, most widely reported first. Hover or tap one to see who reported it.

Analysis

How it changed

1. 4 Sep

   While Flock has over 120,000 license plate readers across the country, it is far from the only ALPR company.

   2 outlets · Mother Jones
2. 5 Sep

   In Florida, transportation officials have ordered law enforcement agencies to take down the license plate readers from state highways.

   2 outlets · Fox News

Coverage 9 articles

• 10 Sep Smear Campaign Says Anti-Flock Movement Is Chinese PropagandaA smear campaign against opponents of the surveillance technology company Flock has been launched, with over a dozen local TV news stations airing a video report claiming they are funded by China and billionaires. The report's claims contradict evidence that those defending Flock have deep pockets and connections to powerful people. Consumer Action for a Strong Economy published a report last week called "The…404 Media
• 6 Sep Cut the cameras: Flock surveillance cameras spur rare bipartisan backlashA growing bipartisan backlash is developing against Flock Safety cameras, which are automated license plate readers that take pictures of vehicle license plates and log car movements. About 120,000 Flock cameras across the US conduct roughly 2 billion scans per month, but have been linked to abuses by police officers in multiple states who used them for stalking and tracking people seeking abortions. Data shows that…The Guardian
• 6 Sep A New Bill Reflects the Bipartisan Backlash Against Flock-Enabled Mass SurveillanceReps. Thomas Massie and Eric Burlison have introduced the Flock-Off Act, a bill to ban federal funding for automated license plate readers (ALPRs) except at borders or for toll enforcement. The bill has bipartisan support, with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna cosponsoring alongside four Republicans. According to a recent YouGov survey, 46% of respondents oppose the use of ALPRs in their communities, while only 38% favor…Reason
• 6 Sep Flock says its cameras make US safer - so why are they being sabotaged?A company called Flock Safety has installed over 100,000 AI-powered surveillance cameras across the US, claiming they increase safety and help solve crimes, but recent vandalism incidents have raised concerns about their use. The cameras, which take pictures of every car that passes by, are being seen as overly broad investigative tools that treat civilians like suspects. Similar sabotage has occurred in multiple…BBC
• 5 Sep Former Pentagon AI chief warns Flock cameras could create 'China-like surveillance state' in the USMark Beall, former Pentagon AI Policy Director, warned that expanding Flock cameras, which are automated license plate readers used by law enforcement, could create a "China-like surveillance state" in the US if not properly regulated. Beall argued that while the technology has benefits for law enforcement, it also raises significant privacy concerns and must be subject to strict rules and court oversight. A number…Fox News
• 5 Sep Flock cameras draw opposition from across the political spectrumPennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis are among those calling for a ban on Flock surveillance cameras, which use AI to track license plates and other vehicle data, with Shapiro stating they're "not in the public interest". DeSantis plans to revoke permits for the cameras on state highways. The technology has been criticized by both parties due to concerns over government…NPR
• 4 Sep Flock Is Canceled—And Its Competitors Are ProfitingFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced at a news conference that Florida will revoke permits for law enforcement license-plate-recognition camera permits on state highways by September. This move is part of a growing trend, as Texas has also ordered state agencies to stop funding Flock cameras and 90 cities cancelled their Flock contracts in August, up from the previous record of 214 cities since 2021. Flock's ALPRs…Mother Jones
• 4 Sep Flock Taught Cops How to Surveil No Kings ProtestersA company called Flock taught law enforcement officials how to surveil protesters during a webinar last year, showcasing its technology's ability to combine various forms of surveillance in real-time. The webinar demonstrated how police can use Flock's software platform, FlockOS, to monitor events like the No Kings protests and 4th of July fireworks displays through a single dashboard. According to the director of…404 Media
• 3 Sep Texas Police Used AI to Write Report About Using Flock to Search for Woman Who Had AbortionThe Johnson County Sheriff's Office in Texas used Axon's Draft One AI tool to help write a police report about an incident where they searched for a woman who had self-administered an abortion using Flock's nationwide network of cameras. The report was generated with the assistance of audio from body camera footage and was used to summarize a discussion of "the legal implications of the situation". The AI-generated…404 Media

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