Story perspectives

Flock Safety Cuts ALPR Data Retention to Seven Days

8/21/2026

Left

Flock Safety Cuts

Flock Safety announced it will cut license-plate-reader data retention from 30 days to seven days and add audit tools.
Critics say the cuts are insufficient, noting over 56 municipalities have ended contracts and groups warn of privacy risks.
St. Charles County police discontinued Flock cameras after civilian misuse, covering them with black bags.
Longmont city council approved an Axon ALPR contract with data-protection safeguards and a one-year review.

Right

Flock Safety Cuts

Flock Safety announced it will cut its data-retention period from 30 days to seven days, Jan. 1, and require users to use an auditing tool.
Right-leaning coverage emphasizes a wave of officials and residents demanding tighter oversight or termination of Flock programs.
From Jan. 1 agencies must tag Flock searches with a case code and flag unusual queries.
Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office will not renew its Flock contract and will remove cameras.

Blindspot

More than 56 municipalities have deactivated, canceled, or rejected Flock Safety contracts this year, citing privacy and surveillance concerns, according to local officials.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Right-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

After the 1989 murder of actress Rebecca Schaeffer and harassment of abortion provider Susan Wicklund, Rep. Jim Moran introduced the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act in 1992; President Bill Clinton signed it on September 13 1994, limiting DMV data sharing. The Supreme Court upheld the law in Reno v. Condon (2000), and today municipalities such as St. Charles County are ending ALPR contracts to comply with its privacy mandates.

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Flock Safety Cuts

Flock Safety announced it will cut license-plate-reader data retention from 30 days to seven days and add audit tools.
Critics say the cuts are insufficient, noting over 56 municipalities have ended contracts and groups warn of privacy risks.
St. Charles County police discontinued Flock cameras after civilian misuse, covering them with black bags.
Longmont city council approved an Axon ALPR contract with data-protection safeguards and a one-year review.

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