Flock Safety cameras help solve crimes, but who's watching the watchers?

Our Take

Atlanta News First deserves credit for even asking the question in their headline: who's watching the watchers? That's the crux of the whole Flock Safety debate, and it's refreshing to see a local newsroom frame it that way instead of just repeating the company's "700,000 crimes solved" talking point as if it settles anything. A number like that tells you nothing about false positives, misuse, data sharing with ICE and other federal agencies, or how long your plate's travel history sits in a database you never consented to.

Here's the uncomfortable truth these segments rarely dig into: Flock's own audit trails depend on police departments actually reviewing who searched what and why, and most departments don't have the staffing, the policy, or frankly the interest to do that rigorously. "Who's watching the watchers" is a great question, but the honest answer in most cities right now is nobody, not really. Self-reported audits and vendor dashboards are not independent oversight.

If your town has these cameras — and odds are it does — that's worth knowing before the next city council vote on renewing the contract. Check our camera map to see what's already watching your streets, and head to take action if you want to push your local officials toward real transparency instead of a press release.