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Flock License‑Plate Camera Network Faces Rollbacks, Criminal Probes and Thefts

Weak oversight of searchable vehicle‑movement records has produced officer misuse, triggered audits, prompted contract changes.

Overview

  • Since the start of 2026 roughly 23 city councils have voted to cancel, deactivate, reject or not renew Flock contracts as local officials reassess surveillance terms and access rules.
  • Investigations and internal audits have led to criminal probes and arrests of officers accused of using ALPR systems to track acquaintances, with reporting linking about 50 accused officers to misuse.
  • Vandalism and theft of Flock units have risen sharply this summer, including Winona, Minnesota’s loss of all eight cameras, with replacement costs around $3,000 per unit.
  • Accuracy problems and false alerts have produced dangerous outcomes for motorists, including misreads that led to wrongful stops and arrests in several jurisdictions.
  • Flock has added automated audit tools and highlights a 30‑day default retention policy while some states expand deployment and lawmakers press for tighter access, leaving a patchwork of local rules and further council votes likely.