Flock's License Plate Cameras Spark Backlash — Cities Are Canceling

Flock Safety is a company that makes automatic license plate readers — cameras that snap a picture of your car and record where you were and when. These cameras are mounted on street corners, in neighborhoods, and along highways. Hundreds of cities across the U.S. have installed them, often without public debate.

A musician and YouTuber named Benn Jordan started investigating Flock after noticing how many cameras were in his hometown of Atlanta. His videos showed that police could access the network and sometimes abused it — for example, tracking people without a warrant or for personal reasons. His work sparked a bipartisan backlash. In a recent Senate hearing, lawmakers grilled Flock and other companies about privacy violations. Now, hundreds of local governments are canceling their contracts with Flock. The company is laying off 18% of its workers.

But here's the catch: Flock isn't the only player. Companies like Axon and Motorola are building similar surveillance networks, often with less public scrutiny. Benn Jordan says the real problem isn't one company — it's the secretive partnership between private industry, government, and law enforcement that puts cameras everywhere without asking voters. He's now working with Flock to fix security holes, but he warns that the bigger fight over surveillance is just beginning.

For you, this means the next time you drive, your car's location could be recorded and stored. Even if Flock is pushed back, other systems may take its place. The debate over how much surveillance is acceptable — and who gets to see your data — is far from over.