Overview
- Redmond’s City Council voted unanimously to power down its ALPR cameras after learning U.S. Border Patrol improperly accessed Auburn’s Flock system.
- Lynnwood launched Flock cameras in June, then worked with the vendor to disable a broad ‘nationwide search’ feature on July 8 before temporarily shutting down its system.
- Local officials say investigative benefits do not outweigh trust concerns, with Redmond’s chief asserting no improper access occurred under his watch and Lynnwood’s chief stressing public confidence.
- Reporting highlights that federal agencies such as CBP, Border Patrol, and ICE have been able to query Flock’s nationwide data, raising legal and oversight concerns.
- Evanston ordered Flock to remove cameras and later issued a cease-and-desist after the company reinstalled them, while Senator Ron Wyden criticized the firm’s safeguards in a formal letter.