Flock Safety Faces Massive Customer Loss and State Bans Over Surveillance Abuse
- Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras are facing a sharp drop in adoptions as more than 214 cities and counties across the United States have abandoned the...
- Florida has banned local police from placing automated license plate reader cameras on state highways.
- Texas delivered a parallel quasi-ban on Flock products following state inquiries into public fund allocations.
Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras are facing a sharp drop in adoptions as more than 214 cities and counties across the United States have abandoned the surveillance technology since 2021, according to data from the privacy activist group Secure Justice. According to the same reporting, over 90 of those municipalities dropped the vendor in a single month. The backlash is fueled by persistent concerns over nationwide camera networks logging billions of plate reads monthly with minimal access restrictions, alongside state-level policy shifts in Florida and Texas restricting public funding and deployment of the devices.
Florida Bans State Highway Flock Cameras After Governor Calls Surveillance Out of Control
Florida has banned local police from placing automated license plate reader cameras on state highways. The Florida Department of Transportation stated it would revoke previous permits for the cameras and halt the issuance of new permits within its jurisdiction. The policy shift followed remarks made by Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who stated that the use of automated license plate readers had gotten out of control. The restriction carries notable limitations. The state-level ban leaves towns and counties free to decide whether to operate surveillance cameras on local municipal streets. Despite the narrow scope of the ban, the policy marks a departure for a state government.
https://x.com/RepDeSaulnier/status/2098154595558080852
Texas Blocks State Agency Spending on Flock Cameras Amid Misappropriation Inquiries
Texas delivered a parallel quasi-ban on Flock products following state inquiries into public fund allocations. Governor Greg Abbott issued an order blocking state agencies from spending money on Flock cameras on Aug. 27. The directive arrived amid inquiries by the Texas Tribune into a small state agency tapping at least $30 million from a fund dedicated to catalytic converter theft to purchase at least 3,200 Flock cameras for law enforcement agencies across the state. Records show that six of the seven board members of the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority are appointed by Abbott. Like the Florida policy, the Texas restriction is not retroactive, meaning cameras already acquired with the disputed funds will continue operating. A spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed that the state police force would pause installing additional cameras but would continue using existing equipment for various public safety efforts.
Flock Safety Responds With New Restrictions Amid Rising Customer Defections
Flock Safety has attempted to address widespread criticism by implementing new data retention limits and mandatory reporting features. The adjustments are designed largely to prevent law enforcement misuse of the nationwide camera network, which processes 20 billion plate reads every month. Privacy advocates and municipal leaders have repeatedly raised alarms regarding how easily the company’s technology can be abused by officers searching database logs without strict oversight. While competitors capitalize on Flock’s recent customer losses to secure municipal contracts, the sudden resistance from traditionally pro-law enforcement states highlights a shifting political landscape for surveillance tech. Whether the recent state-level restrictions signal a permanent contraction for highway tracking networks or remain isolated administrative pauses depends on how cities and state regulators handle ongoing oversight in upcoming legislative cycles.