From TechCrunch · Dominic-Madori Davis · · 3m
Ten cities ditch Flock surveillance cameras
Local governments across the US are dropping Flock Safety's surveillance technology over privacy concerns, misuse by officers, and federal access to data.
In brief
Local governments across the US are dropping Flock Safety's surveillance technology over privacy concerns, misuse by officers, and federal access to data. At least ten local governments have ended contracts with Flock Safety since summer over privacy concerns, officer misuse, and federal immigration enforcement access…
At least ten cities drop Flock
Monroe, Ohio; Newburgh, New York; Richmond, Virginia; Hopkinton, Massachusetts; New Bedford, Massachusetts; and Lansing, Michigan have all ended contracts with Flock Safety since summer.
More cities announce plans to quit
Police in East Bridgewater and Grafton, Massachusetts announced plans to stop using Flock cameras. League City, Texas residents voted against their police department's continued use.
Earlier terminations in August and September
Asheville, North Carolina police lost access after the city voted to terminate its contract in August. El Paso County Sheriff's Office in Colorado announced in September it would stop using Flock.
What Flock Safety does
Founded in 2017, Flock sells surveillance software including license plate readers, drones, and microphone-based devices to detect gunshots. More than one hundred thousand Flock cameras are in use nationwide.
Why cities are dropping Flock
Concerns range from privacy to how data is shared and with whom, to procurement concerns. The backlash is part of broader pushback against rapid adoption of advanced AI technology.
Officers misused cameras to stalk
In August, an officer in Brentwood, Missouri was accused of using Flock cameras to stalk his ex-wife during their divorce. In September, an East Texas officer was sentenced to prison for stalking his ex-girlfriend.
Federal agents accessed Flock data
Ithaca, New York passed a resolution in March to terminate its contract, citing proven instances of Flock infrastructure being used by federal agents without specific authorization from the contracting locality.
ICE and ATF accessed the database
Ithaca's resolution stated Flock allowed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to use query results from its automatic license plate reader database to investigate immigrants.
Flock denies selling data to ICE
Flock told TechCrunch every customer owns its data and controls who it is shared with. Flock does not sell data and does not have a contract with ICE, the company said.
“Every Flock customer owns its data and controls who it is shared with and how it can be used.”
Flock shortened default data storage
In August, Flock announced it would shorten the default period it stores data for new customers from thirty days to seven. Agencies now need a case code before searching the database.
Some cities restrict rather than drop
Cleveland, Ohio voted this summer to extend its contract with Flock but started restricting searches related to immigration. It limited database access to Cleveland Police alone, cutting off the Northeast Ohio Regional Fusion Center.
Congress moves to restrict Flock
In September, Rep.Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, introduced the Flock-Off Act to bar federal money for Flock-style surveillance.In October, Sen.Bernie Sanders, Rep.Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Sen.Jeff Merkley introduced the Ban Flock Act.
Public opinion turns against Flock
In September, President Donald Trump said he liked Flock's technology because of law enforcement. But a Reuters poll that same month found more Americans dislike the technology than like it.
What to remember
At least ten local governments have ended contracts with Flock Safety since summer over privacy concerns, officer misuse, and federal immigration enforcement access to the data.
