From The Conversation · Abigail Hall · · 3m
Florida's Flock Cameras Ban Only Scratches Surveillance Surface
Florida's limited ban on Flock cameras leaves widespread surveillance concerns unaddressed.
In brief
Florida's limited ban on Flock cameras leaves widespread surveillance concerns unaddressed. Florida's ban on Flock cameras from state highways does not address broader surveillance concerns as the technology remains operational on municipal roads and private properties. Originally reported by The Conversation.
Flock cameras appear across Florida
Automated license plate readers like Flock cameras have been quietly appearing on roadsides all over the U.S. Florida law enforcement agencies signed contracts with Flock Safety, one of the largest purveyors of these technologies.
Nearly 10,000 Flock cameras in Florida
Crowdsourced mapping projects currently show nearly 10,000 cameras in Florida, with concentrations around major metropolitan areas. This is likely an undercounting.
Flock cameras banned from state highways
In late August, Florida banned Flock cameras from state highways. But this represents the removal of a subset of cameras, not an immediate, systemic change.
Flock cameras track vehicles across jurisdictions
Flock cameras allow users to search based on vehicle make, model, color, and distinctive features like dents and stickers. Data can be used to find vehicle owners through queries in other systems.
Flock networks connect law enforcement agencies
The St. Petersburg Police Department reportedly operates about 50 Flock cameras but can search data from more than 1,000 other agencies nationwide, including Florida Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Flock cameras used for immigration searches
Florida officials have used Flock data repeatedly for immigration-related searches, despite Flock saying it does not partner directly with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Flock data retention rules
Under Florida statute, license plate records are subject to a three-year retention schedule unless part of an active criminal investigation.
Flock guidelines lack legal force
In 2024, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement revised guidelines to recommend policies for Flock camera use, but these are guidelines, not laws.
Public awareness of Flock misuse
Public awareness of Flock misuse has come from journalists and watchdog groups analyzing records of adjacent nonconfidential documents like internal memos and disciplinary files.
Flock cameras remain on municipal roads
Flock cameras and the systems they connect to are still operating on municipal and county roads and private properties like homeowner’s associations.
State lawmakers push for Flock regulations
From Florida and California to Connecticut and Texas, lawmakers in red and blue states are rolling out new guidelines and policies related to Flock cameras.
Flock cameras face public pushback
Some South Florida mayors are pushing back against DeSantis’ restriction of Flock cameras, despite the ban on state highways.
Flock policy changes lack real impact
The removal of Flock cameras from Florida highways does not meaningfully change how remaining cameras operate or address broader surveillance concerns.
What to remember
Florida's ban on Flock cameras from state highways does not address broader surveillance concerns as the technology remains operational on municipal roads and private properties.
