Flock & ALPR Cameras in New York
At least 4,457 automated license plate readers have been reported across New York — the 7th most-surveilled state in the country by camera count.
Updated Oct 8, 2026 · Live data
4,457 automated license plate readers have been reported in New York as of October 8, 2026, ranking it #7 of 52 states and territories. They are documented in 700 cities and towns across 57 counties. 45 percent are Flock Safety cameras.
580 cameras were added to the New York map in the last 30 days and 380 were removed. The most recent camera was reported on September 11, 2026. Times Square (70) has the most, followed by Sloan (49) and Kenmore (44).
68 operators are named in the records, including NYC Department of Transportation, New York City Police Department, Buffalo Police Department. Source: community-mapped camera data (OpenStreetMap, ODbL) with DeFlock The USA’s permanent history.
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Every one of those 4,457 cameras photographs the plate of each car that passes it — logging where New York 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.
On the agenda: Copake Town Board Meeting 091026 — Flock camera (Oct 8)
Thursday, October 8 — today · The full record → · Read the agenda ↗
On the agenda: Newburgh meeting — surveillance camera (Oct 8)
Thursday, October 8 — today · The full record → · Read the agenda ↗
Every record for this area on the Docket → · nothing is ever deleted.
- Oct 8 Flock Safety camera newly reported
- Oct 8 Pelco camera newly reported
- Oct 8 Axis Communications camera newly reported
- Oct 8 Rekor camera newly reported
Newly reported by volunteers — cameras may have been up long before someone mapped them.
📷 6 new license plate readers just reported around Flatlands, NY. Newly mapped by volunteers — see what's watching. #ALPR #Surveillance #Flatlands
📷 7 new license plate readers just reported around Spring Valley, NY. Newly mapped by volunteers — see what's watching. #ALPR #Surveillance #SpringValley
📷 40 new license plate readers just reported around Bronxville, NY. Newly mapped by volunteers — see what's watching. #ALPR #Surveillance #Bronxville
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 New York, that’s 4,457 points quietly building a record of residents’ movements. See how the tech works and where your data goes.
How New York compares
New York ranks #7 of 52 states and territories by reported ALPR cameras — among the most heavily surveilled in the nation. Nationwide, volunteers have mapped over 143,000 cameras and counting. Nearby by camera count: Illinois (8,075), North Carolina (3,783), Ohio (6,864), Pennsylvania (3,815).
The latest from New York
- Troy approves New York's first local law regulating license plate readers
- ShotSpotter part of New York City public safety progress as SoundThinking shares sharp decline in shootings
- Troy passes New York's first local law restricting license plate readers
- Troy Passes New York's First License Plate Reader Law, Mayor Vows Veto
- UPSTATE NEW YORK TOWN HAS NO IDEA WHO PUT A 'FLOCK' CAMERA ON MAIN STREET
The conversation about New York:
Bryan King@[email protected]MastodonNot Against Flesh and Blood 3,915 words, 21 minutes read time. Wyatt Hatfield knew the exact sound of a man digging a shallow grave for somebody else with a mouthful of smooth talk. It sounded like an electric drill…11 hours ago★ Our signal
DeFlock The USA@deflocktheusa.bsky.socialBluesky📷 6 new license plate readers just reported around Flatlands, NY. Newly mapped by volunteers — see what's watching. #ALPR #Surveillance #Flatlands1 day ago
BanmarNJ@banmarnj.bsky.socialBlueskySuffolk County more than doubles number of ‘Big Brother’ Flock cameras in past year — with many targeting tony enclave3 days ago
Hoodline@[email protected]MastodonSchumer Demands Flock Safety Delete Data, Reveal Federal Camera Access https://hoodline.com/2026/10/schumer-demands-flock-safety-delete-data-reveal-federal-camera-access/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into Hoodline New York @hoodline-new-york-Hoodline3 days ago
Carceral Abolition@carceralabolition.bsky.socialBlueskyLong Island cops have quietly more than doubled their number of Flock Safety cameras recording and logging every passing car in Suffolk County in the past year — with many now targeting the Hamptons nypost.com/2026/10/04/u...4 days ago
New York Post [Unofficial]@[email protected]MastodonSuffolk County more than doubles number of ‘Big Brother’ Flock cameras in past year — with many targeting this tony enclave https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://nypost.com/2026/10/04/us-news/suffolk-county-more-than-doubles-number-of-big-brother-flock-cameras-in-past-year/4 days agoAll surveillance news → · All video & feeds →
What you can do in New York
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.
Flock Off Ithaca — Ithaca, New York
Organized after 22 cameras went up in 2024 — and won: Ithaca’s Common Council voted to end the city’s Flock program.
Read the story ↗Southern Tier Alliance — Southern Tier, New York
Binghamton-area alliance organizing against license-plate readers across New York’s Southern Tier.
Join the fight ↗Flock & ALPR cameras by city in New York
We track 701 New York cities and towns with reported cameras — each with its own local report:
Flock & ALPR cameras by county in New York
57 New York 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.