Flock cameras face nationwide backlash over privacy and misuse concerns

Our Take

NBC 15's report is a snapshot of something we're seeing pop up across the country: communities pass a ban or a moratorium on Flock's ALPR network, and yet the cameras stay up, or new ones go in anyway, until residents start taking matters into their own hands. That gap between what local officials promise and what actually happens on the ground is exactly why this fight can't just be left to a city council vote and a press release.

Vandalism isn't a strategy we're pushing, but it's a symptom worth paying attention to. When people feel like the normal channels — public comment, elected officials, transparency requests — aren't getting a camera taken down after it's already been ruled unwanted, frustration finds other outlets. That's a warning sign for any city still weighing whether to bring Flock in, and a reminder for the ones that already banned it: a ban on paper means nothing if enforcement doesn't follow.

Credit to NBC 15 for keeping a camera on this story after the ban headlines faded. If you want to see whether Flock has a presence near you, check our map, and if you're ready to push back through legitimate channels, our take-action page has the tools to hold your local government accountable instead of waiting for it to police itself.