At least 10 local governments have moved to drop Flock’s surveillance cameras since summer
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
At least ten U.S. local governments and police departments have moved since summer to curb, restrict, or terminate contracts with surveillance firm Flock Safety amid rising concerns over mass surveillance and data privacy. The backlash forms part of a broader pushback against rapid AI adoption, including facial‑recognition and data‑center expansion. Flock, founded in 2017, sells license‑plate readers, drones and edge‑computing microphones that claim to aid crime solving; more than 100,000 of its cameras are deployed nationwide. Recent terminations include Monroe, Ohio; Newburgh, New York; Richmond, Virginia; Hopkinton, Massachusetts; New Bedford, Massachusetts; Lansing, Michigan; East Bridgewater and Grafton, Massachusetts; League City, Texas; Asheville, North Carolina; and El Paso County, Colorado. Officials cite privacy, data‑sharing, procurement worries and documented misuse, such as officers using the system to stalk ex‑partners and alleged unauthorized access by ICE and ATF. Flock responded by shortening data‑retention periods from 30 to seven days and requiring case codes for access.
💡 Why It Matters
- · Communities are rejecting visible surveillance tools that can be repurposed by federal agencies, forcing a reassessment of how law‑enforcement balances public‑safety benefits against civil‑rights risks.
