July 22: In Fresno, ‘Flock’ Cameras Raise Alarm As Police Defend Use Of Technology
The short version: KVPR's Fresno report shows police defending Flock ALPR cameras as community members push back on privacy and data concerns.
Our Take
Fresno is the latest city where the public is asking basic questions Flock Safety and local police departments would rather not answer in detail: who sees this data, how long is it kept, and what happens when it's shared outside the department. KVPR's report captures a familiar pattern — officials defending the technology in broad strokes about public safety while residents are left to wonder exactly how their daily movements are being logged and for whom.
This back-and-forth matters because ALPR networks don't just catch the car involved in a crime. They build a searchable record of everyone who drives past a camera, whether or not they're suspected of anything. Once that data exists, it can be queried by other agencies, including federal ones, often with little local oversight and even less public notice. 'Trust us' isn't a policy, it's a hope.
Credit to KVPR for pushing Fresno PD on the record. If you want to see whether there's a Flock camera near you, check our map, and if you want to push back on these systems in your own city, our take-action page has concrete steps.
This is DeFlock The USA’s original commentary. The video above is the work of KVPR, published on YouTube — full credit to the creator.