*TONIGHT*Have questions about the Flock Safety camera system?

Our Take

Credit where it's due: Neuse News is doing something most local outlets skip entirely — actually opening the floor for a community conversation about Flock Safety's license plate readers. Too often these systems get installed after a quiet city council vote and a press release about 'public safety,' with zero chance for residents to ask who's watching the watchers. A live Q&A, even a modest one, is a step in the right direction.

But we'd gently push back on the framing. 'Informed conversation' only works if the audience walks in knowing what to ask. Flock reps are skilled at talking about stolen cars and Amber Alerts; they're far less eager to discuss data retention windows, who else can query the network, how often law enforcement shares access across state lines, or what happens when a camera misreads a plate and sends an officer rolling up on an innocent driver. If you're tuning in, come with those questions loaded.

This is exactly the kind of local accountability moment we want to see replicated in every town that's quietly wired up with ALPRs. Check our camera map to see what's already watching your streets, and if your city hasn't had its own public Q&A yet, our take-action page has tools to help you demand one.