Flock & ALPR Cameras in South Carolina
At least 2,142 automated license plate readers have been reported across South Carolina — the 21st most-surveilled state in the country by camera count.
Updated Oct 6, 2026 · Live data
2,142 automated license plate readers have been reported in South Carolina as of October 6, 2026, ranking it #21 of 52 states and territories. They are documented in 203 cities and towns across 40 counties. 92 percent are Flock Safety cameras.
225 cameras were added to the South Carolina map in the last 30 days and 28 were removed. The most recent camera was reported on September 11, 2026. Greenwood (70) has the most, followed by Florence (66) and Sumter (54).
15 operators are named in the records, including Lowe's, City of Florence PD, Mount Pleasant Police Department. Source: community-mapped camera data (OpenStreetMap, ODbL) with DeFlock The USA’s permanent history.
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Every one of those 2,142 cameras photographs the plate of each car that passes it — logging where South Carolina drivers go, when, and how often, whether or not anyone is suspected of a crime. Here’s what that means, and what you can do about it.
- Oct 5, 2026 On the agenda: Mount Pleasant meeting — Flock camera (Oct 5)
- Oct 5, 2026 On the agenda: Travelers Rest October 5, 2026 Council Committee Meeting Agenda Packet — ALPR (Oct 5)
- Sep 21, 2026 On the agenda: Spartanburg County meeting — License Plate Reader (Sep 21)
- Sep 21, 2026 On the agenda: Spartanburg meeting — License Plate Reader (Sep 21)
Every record for this area on the Docket → · nothing is ever deleted.
- Oct 6 Axis Communications camera newly reported
- Oct 6 Axis Communications camera newly reported
- Oct 6 Flock Safety camera newly reported
- Oct 6 Rekor camera newly reported
Newly reported by volunteers — cameras may have been up long before someone mapped them.
What these cameras actually do
Automated license plate readers (ALPRs) like those sold by Flock Safety aren’t normal traffic cameras. Each one reads every passing plate, stamps it with a time and location, and stores it in a searchable database — often shared across agencies. Across South Carolina, that’s 2,142 points quietly building a record of residents’ movements. See how the tech works and where your data goes.
How South Carolina compares
South Carolina ranks #21 of 52 states and territories by reported ALPR cameras — part of a fast-growing national footprint. Nationwide, volunteers have mapped over 142,000 cameras and counting. Nearby by camera count: Kansas (2,056), Louisiana (2,157), Washington (2,279), Wisconsin (2,089).
The latest from South Carolina
- 8 Flock cameras damaged, stolen in South Carolina county
- In letter to CEO, South Carolina AG questions Flock safety policies
- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson sends letter to Flock Safety regarding privacy and security policies
- South Carolina attorney general demands answers from Flock on ‘broader network’ of data
- University of South Carolina celebrates launch of new Feed the Flock refrigerators
The conversation about South Carolina:
NoDrama100@nodrama100.bsky.socialBlueskyRead "South Carolina attorney general demands answers from Flock on ‘broader network’ of data" on SmartNews: l.smartnews.com/p-8D08bCmc/B...1 day ago
YourAssignmentEditor@topstory.bsky.socialBlueskywww.foxcarolina.com/2026/10/05/a...1 day ago
The Viral Desk@theviraldesk.bsky.socialBlueskyA South Carolina man criticised Flock surveillance cameras on Facebook. What happened next? He says the police chief threatened to send US Marshals to arrest him over the post. 👀1 week ago
Another GAY Steven@beachbum7777.bsky.socialBlueskywww.yahoo.com/news/politic...3 weeks ago
Jösé ART ♛@[email protected]MastodonConcerns about Flock safety cameras could lead to change in South Carolina https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/concerns-about-flock-safety-cameras-could-lead-change-south-carolina/VO6D7GFRM5AOJMUWWTUJANUB3I/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into NEWS "THE WORLD" @news-the-world-ARTJose3 weeks ago
Summed News@summednews.bsky.socialBlueskyMissing South Carolina child found in Independence County, sheriff says — KAIT Region 8 News #ArkansasNews #LocalTV #Video4 weeks agoAll surveillance news → · All video & feeds →
What you can do in South Carolina
You don’t have to accept it — and you don’t have to be anti-safety to demand accountability. File a public records request to learn your town’s retention and data-sharing policy, speak up at a city-council meeting, and see the full playbook on our Take Action page.
Not sure what one looks like? See photographs of installed cameras before you go looking.
DeFlock GSP — Greenville, South Carolina
Independently run local group listed on the DeFlock project directory (deflock.org).
Join the fight ↗DeFlock South Carolina — South Carolina
Independently run local group listed on the DeFlock project directory (deflock.org).
Join the fight ↗Upstate Food Not Bombs — Greenville, South Carolina
Independently run local group listed on the DeFlock project directory (deflock.org).
Join the fight ↗Flock & ALPR cameras by city in South Carolina
We track 202 South Carolina cities and towns with reported cameras — each with its own local report:
Flock & ALPR cameras by county in South Carolina
40 South Carolina counties have at least one reported camera. Tap any county for its full local report.
Counts come from the open-source DeFlock project’s volunteer reports and update as new cameras are mapped. A county not listed has no reported cameras yet — not necessarily none. Spot one? Report it.