Overview
- Dozens of local governments across Arizona, Wisconsin, Texas, Tennessee, Minnesota and Ohio have suspended, covered, removed or voted to end contracts with Flock Safety following recent disclosures about the company’s network and local audits.
- Reporting and internal reviews documented repeated instances of officers running unauthorized searches, investigations that produced resignations and leaves, and policies instructing staff not to disclose ALPR use to the public.
- Officials and watchdogs say large numbers of outside agencies could search stored vehicle sightings and that some jurisdictions received offers or evidence suggesting Flock had made anonymized traffic data available to third parties, claims the company denies.
- Cities and state lawmakers are advancing concrete limits that would shorten retention windows, require warrants or stricter authorization for cross‑jurisdiction searches, mandate regular audits and create criminal penalties for misuse.
- The dispute has practical effects for public safety and privacy: police cite cases where ALPRs helped find missing people and solve crimes, while communities face the task of balancing those benefits against loss of trust, potential legal changes and tighter procurement rules.