▶Watch the video on YouTubeDate saved: 2026-10-18 18:00 (PDT)
Sources: The Detroit News, Mississippi Clarion Ledger, ABC News, The Hill, NPR, Politico, USA TODAY
Key findings
City contract cancellations mount
- The Detroit News (Oct 12, 2026): Madison Heights, Michigan, became the latest Metro Detroit community to sever ties with Flock Safety, announcing on Oct. 11 that it would disconnect its three ALPR cameras and not renew its contract when it expires in November 2028. The city said Flock was unable to assure officials that "appropriate guardrails" were in place. Ten communities across Metro Detroit have now canceled Flock contracts in the last six months. (Source)
- Mississippi Clarion Ledger (Oct 16, 2026): Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney announced the department will not renew its Flock contract, citing privacy concerns. Brackney noted that more than 50 officers nationwide have been charged for policy violations involving Flock license plate readers and said JPD will look at alternative ALPR systems with "stringent policies so we don't over surveil or over police." (Source)
- ABC News (Sep 1, 2026): More than 50 cities and counties have canceled or deactivated ALPR cameras in 2026, Politico found. Florida's state transportation office revoked local law enforcement's ability to put license plate readers on state highways. Flock cameras have been vandalized in at least 36 states. The ACLU called it "the biggest, most grassroots privacy backlash that I've ever seen in more than 20 years working on these issues." (Source)
- The Hill (Aug 2026): Tempe, Arizona, terminated its $80,000 Flock contract and Cave Creek followed hours later. More than 90 cities have moved to cancel or reject Flock ALPRs. Flock announced new privacy safeguards including an "Audit Assistance" feature and a "proactive lockout" feature that automatically suspends access for abnormal user behavior. (Source)
Police abuse and stalking scandals
- ABC News (Sep 1, 2026): A Kentucky police officer was arrested after allegedly using Flock cameras to track his ex-girlfriend more than 2,000 times. In Savannah, Georgia, six police department employees were fired in August over alleged abuse of Flock cameras. The Institute for Justice has identified more than 100 incidents of ALPR abuse, including stalking and wrongful stops. (Source)
- NPR (Aug 22, 2026): The FBI investigated a case where a police officer searched his ex-girlfriend's license plate number 124 times and her former boyfriend's plate 55 times. NPR found that deputies in Texas used Flock data to investigate a woman suspected of traveling to have an abortion. More than 130,000 ALPR cameras are in cities and towns across the country, according to DeFlock.org. (Source)
Political and legislative response
- The Hill (Aug 2026): Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) launched an investigation into Flock's national surveillance network, citing "abuse and misuse of personal data." Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called the increasing use of ALPRs "out of control." The Washington Post investigation found more than 50 law enforcement officers accused, charged with, or convicted of misusing ALPRs for unauthorized purposes. (Source)
- USA TODAY (Aug 2026): Flock Safety acknowledged that officers conducted searches not tied to law enforcement investigations, including stalking and harassment. More than 20 police agencies have launched investigations, suspended or fired officers, or filed criminal charges for misusing Flock. The company changed its privacy and data retention policies, reducing default retention from 30 to 7 days. (Source)
Source links
- The Detroit News — Another Metro Detroit community parts ways with Flock
- Mississippi Clarion Ledger — Police chief to end Flock cameras contract in Jackson
- ABC News — Flock cameras trigger nationwide backlash over privacy concerns, police abuse
- The Hill — Flock contract cancellations grow among cities, other municipalities
- NPR — Flock Safety alternatives: new names, same surveillance
- USA TODAY — More than 50 officers charged for Flock misuse
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution — Police misused Flock Safety cameras. Now Flock is using AI to catch it.
- Business Insider — Misuse Of Flock's Cameras Is Sending Innocent People To Jail | Dispatch
Compiled by Hermes scheduled research — saved 2026-10-18
