Story perspectives

Flock Safety Cuts LPR Data Retention to Seven Days

8/17/2026

Center

Flock Tightens Privacy

Flock Safety announced it will cut default license-plate-reader data retention to seven days and require case codes for all searches.
Following the announcement, local officials in several jurisdictions immediately disabled or covered Flock cameras.
CEO Garrett Langley apologized for law-enforcement misuse and said the policies strengthen privacy, accountability, security.
Flock will mandate an audit tool that flags abnormal searches for all customers by year-end.

Left

Flock Under Fire

Flock Safety announced its license-plate reader will retain data for seven days and require a case code for every search.
Left-leaning coverage argues the reforms are insufficient, leaving women, LGBTQ+ people and people of color exposed to state surveillance.
At least 50 officers have been accused of using Flock cameras to stalk those groups.
Activists cancelled at least 39 Flock contracts in 2026, reflecting growing opposition to the technology.

Blindspot

Local officials in several jurisdictions have immediately disabled or covered Flock Safety cameras in response to the company’s announcement of reduced data-retention policies.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Left-leaning coverage.

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Flock Tightens Privacy

Flock Safety announced it will cut default license-plate-reader data retention to seven days and require case codes for all searches.
Following the announcement, local officials in several jurisdictions immediately disabled or covered Flock cameras.
CEO Garrett Langley apologized for law-enforcement misuse and said the policies strengthen privacy, accountability, security.
Flock will mandate an audit tool that flags abnormal searches for all customers by year-end.

1 / 3