California group begins labeling flock cameras, debate in Indiana continues

Our Take

Credit to WTHR for covering both ends of this story at once: everyday people in San Francisco physically marking Flock cameras so neighbors know they're being tracked, while Indiana officials continue to talk in circles about whether any of this needs guardrails. That contrast says a lot. When residents feel compelled to DIY their own transparency because governments and police departments won't disclose camera locations or policies, it's a sign the system isn't working the way it should in a democracy.

Labeling cameras is a clever, low-cost form of civic resistance, but it shouldn't have to substitute for actual public accountability. Most people have no idea how many of these plate readers are logging their movements every day, who has access to that data, or how long it's kept. That information gap is exactly what lets networks like Flock expand with so little friction. Indiana's ongoing debate is a reminder that even when lawmakers notice the problem, action moves at a glacial pace while the camera count keeps climbing.

If you want to see what's already been installed near you, check our camera map, and if you're ready to push back locally, our take-action resources can help you start the conversation with your own city council before they rubber-stamp another surveillance contract.