Gov. Kehoe signs executive order restricting Flock Safety data

Our Take

Credit to KOMU 8 News for putting a spotlight on Gov. Mike Kehoe's executive order aimed at curbing misuse of Flock Safety's automated license plate readers in Missouri. That the governor felt compelled to act tells you what we already knew: public unease about this technology has moved from online forums into the halls of state government, and officials can no longer pretend it's a non-issue.

But let's be clear-eyed about what an executive order actually is. It's a directive from one administration, not a statute passed by the legislature. It can be rewritten, watered down, or ignored by the next governor with the stroke of a pen. Real accountability for ALPR networks — audit trails, data retention limits, bans on sharing with out-of-state and federal agencies, meaningful penalties for misuse — needs to be written into law, not left to executive discretion.

Missouri residents who want to know how many of these cameras are already watching their daily commute should check our camera map, and anyone ready to push for real legislative guardrails instead of a temporary order can find concrete steps at take action.