How To Protect Your Privacy in an Era of Flock Cameras and ALPR Surveillance

Our Take

Burton Kelso, who usually covers gadgets and tech troubleshooting, turning his attention to Flock Safety cameras tells you something: this isn't just an ACLU talking point anymore, it's a mainstream consumer tech concern. When a "how-to" channel starts fielding questions about the black box on the street pole, it means regular people are noticing these things and getting uneasy, not just policy wonks.

That unease is earned. ALPR networks like Flock's quietly log where you drive, when, and how often, building a searchable history of your movements without a warrant or even much public debate in most towns. Practical privacy tips are useful, but no amount of personal opsec fully offsets a camera network that blankets entire counties and feeds data to police departments and, increasingly, federal agencies. Individual countermeasures matter, but they're a patch, not a fix, for a systemic surveillance problem.

That's why knowing where these cameras actually are matters as much as any personal privacy hack. Check our camera map to see what's logging plates in your area, and head to our take-action page if you want to push back at the source instead of just driving around it.