Overview
- The LAPD allowed its contract with Flock Safety to expire on Saturday, July 11, and has paused use of the company’s pole‑mounted cameras while negotiators seek stricter terms on data control.
- Department officials say the talks focus on who owns ALPR (automated license‑plate reader) data, how it may be shared, and the addition of civil penalties if the vendor discloses information to outside agencies that do not follow local law.
- Flock Safety says it does not share customer data without permission and expressed confidence that discussions with the LAPD will resolve misunderstandings and restore the partnership.
- It is unclear how many active Flock cameras will be shut off immediately; Flock provides a relatively small share of the LAPD’s broader ALPR network, which the department reported produced about 1.13 billion reads and roughly 301,655 hits in 2024.
- The pause follows audits and disclosure concerns in other U.S. cities, lawsuits from civil‑liberties groups and public protests, and could prompt new contract rules that reshape how police use plate‑reading systems and who can access the data.