Full Breakdown
LAPD Halts Flock Safety License-Plate Camera Contract Over Privacy Concerns
7/14/2026, 12:52:28 PM
Core Decision
On Saturday, July 11 2026, the Los Angeles Police Department announced it will let its three-year agreement with surveillance firm Flock Safety expire. The contract, signed in July 2023, covered 138 pole-mounted cameras that scan vehicle license plates across the city. LAPD officials said the department will not renew the deal until “data, privacy, security and sharing concerns” are resolved through a new contractual framework.
Background & Context
Flock Safety, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, operates a network of at least 80,000 cameras nationwide and supplies automated license-plate readers (ALPRs) to roughly 5,000 law-enforcement agencies. In Los Angeles, the ALPR system also includes 248 pole-mounted cameras, 140 rooftop units on police vehicles, 1,500 interior vehicle cameras, and seven mobile trailer units, according to a 2025 inspector-general audit. Earlier this year, city councilmember Ysabel Jurado introduced a motion urging the Board of Police Commissioners to refrain from any new agreements with Flock, citing data-sharing worries. Other municipalities—Mountain View, California, and South Portland, Maine—have already terminated their contracts after discovering that federal immigration officials accessed Flock data in violation of local sanctuary policies.
Data & Statistics
- 138 Flock-operated pole cameras are active in Los Angeles.
- The department’s broader ALPR fleet totals over 1,800 cameras.
- Flock’s national footprint exceeds 80,000 license-plate readers.
- LAPD’s data retention policy holds captured images for 7–30 days before deletion.
Official Statements & Responses
Dean Gialamas, LAPD chief information officer, explained the pause: “The sticking point is around having very clear terms about who owns the data, what happens with the data once they collect it.” He added that the department “does not use Flock's cameras to help U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement” and emphasized that any search of the footage requires an active criminal case and properly trained users.
Flock Safety responded that its technology “should be used with strong privacy protections, strict auditability, and clear oversight,” and expressed confidence that ongoing discussions could “clear up the current misconceptions that led to today’s disappointing pause.”
Criticism & Opposition
Privacy advocacy group Stop LAPD Spying, represented by organizer Hamid Khan, has repeatedly challenged the department’s ALPR practices, filing a lawsuit in May 2026 to obtain Flock contracts. Khan argued that the city should “end all use of license-plate readers and not negotiate a new contract at all.” Community activists have staged demonstrations outside LAPD headquarters, warning that data could be leveraged for federal immigration enforcement.
On-the-Ground Reports
Local residents report mixed reactions. Some homeowners’ associations have allowed the cameras on private property, while others have physically covered or dismantled units. A journalist from The Drive recounted being tracked for days after a Flock camera mistakenly flagged his loan-er vehicle’s plate as stolen, illustrating the risk of false-positive alerts.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Lawmakers have urged federal consumer agencies to investigate Flock for inadequate security, yet the LAPD maintains that its cameras are “audited and inspected for compliance regularly.” Independent media outlet 404 Media documented a breach that let the agency view live feeds, but the department has not disclosed the full extent of that exposure.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This contract is not being renewed because of serious concerns around civil liberties and civil rights issues, particularly around privacy and the data that is being collected from these cameras,” — Dean Gialamas, LAPD chief information officer
- “The LAPD had to make a difficult decision, in this case discontinuing using Flock services until we can get those data, privacy, security and sharing concerns ironed out through a contractual relationship.” — Dean Gialamas
- “Flock's position has been simple: if this technology is going to be used, it should be used with strong privacy protections, strict auditability, and clear oversight,” — Flock Safety spokesperson
- “The use is strictly for law enforcement purposes, and it is inherently not for any immigration purposes,” — Dean Gialamas
What’s Next
The LAPD’s city attorney’s office is drafting revised contract language that would specify data ownership, retention periods, and access controls. The department has indicated it will resume discussions with Flock only after those protections are codified.
