El Paso orders decommissioned Flock cameras removed within 60 days, blocks new ALPR deals
The short version: El Paso's city council unanimously ordered decommissioned Flock ALPR cameras torn down within 60 days and put a hold on new contracts, a rare win for privacy over vendor momentum.
Our Take
Credit to ARC El Paso for getting this on tape: a unanimous council vote is not something that happens by accident, it happens because residents showed up, asked hard questions, and refused to let "decommissioned" cameras just quietly rust in place on city poles. That distinction matters. Flock gear doesn't stop being a surveillance liability just because a contract lapsed or a pilot program ended — the hardware, the data pipes, and the precedent all stay put unless someone forces the issue.
What's notable here is the two-part win: not just a cleanup order but a pause on new ALPR deals. That second piece is the one cities usually skip, letting old systems get replaced by newer, more networked ones without ever revisiting whether the original justification held up. El Paso reps apparently did revisit it, and said no for now. That's the kind of scrutiny every city council should be applying before renewal, not after residents force a reckoning.
This is exactly the kind of local accountability we track. If you want to see what's actually deployed near you, check the map, and if your city hasn't had this conversation yet, our take-action page has the tools to start it.
This is DeFlock The USA’s original commentary. The video above is the work of ARC El Paso, published on YouTube — full credit to the creator.