Full Breakdown
Flock Safety Expands Drone Surveillance Amid Growing Privacy Concerns
8/22/2026, 2:20:19 AM
Core Event: Newport Approves $375,000 Drone-First-Responder Contract
The contract is valued at $375,000, with $275,000 from philanthropist Peter Kiernan and $100,000 from the city. Newport will pay $125,000 per year for drone access while Flock retains ownership of the hardware and data streams.
Background & Context
Flock Safety entered public-safety markets with automated license-plate-reading (LPR) cameras that feed location data to a nationwide law-enforcement network. The company has faced “deflock” protests, contract cancellations in cities such as Los Angeles, and criticism from digital-rights groups that argue its technology enables pervasive tracking of activists and vulnerable populations.
Data & Statistics
- 200 agencies have signed up for Flock’s Drone-First-Responder (DFR) program.
- The Alpha model can travel up to 60 mph, cover 50 sq mi, and read plates from 2,000 ft.
- Newport’s interim drone is a DJI Malice 4TD with a DJI Dock 3; retail prices are roughly $8,000 for the drone and $15,000 for the dock.
- Battery packs cost $300–$500 each and support flights of about 55 min.
- The city’s LPR portal, updated July 25, recorded two stolen-vehicle alerts in the prior 90 days.
Official Statements & Responses
Newport Police Chief Ryan Duffy said the city will retain control over data captured by the drone, while Flock will own data generated by its proprietary services, including radar and radio-frequency sensor outputs. Duffy clarified that the drone is not a “flying license-plate reader” and will be used for emergency response, harbor-master operations, and coastal-infrastructure inspections.
When asked for comment, Flock’s media team sent an automated reply indicating the company was “touching grass” and would respond later.
Criticism & Opposition
The ACLU called for transparency about flight purpose, equipment, and privacy practices.
A Wired investigation uncovered internal code—named OS Investigate—that could merge vehicle-scan data with police incident reports and arrest records, effectively creating suspect lists. Although Flock says the feature remains in testing, privacy advocates argue it expands surveillance beyond the company’s public statements that it does not use facial recognition or interior-car imaging.
Activists have vandalized or disabled Flock’s fixed LPR cameras, and several Rhode Island municipalities (South Kingstown, Narragansett, Little Compton) have terminated their contracts amid mounting public unease.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The company’s marketing claims about the Alpha model’s range and speed lack independent verification.
- Public contract documents are scanned images, preventing easy verification of specific drone models, retention rules, or exact data-ownership clauses.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Normally what would happen… is like one cop would have heard that, flip on the blue lights, race down there… and someone’s about to die,” — Garrett Langley, Flock CEO
- “Each data search by our agency or another agency is associated with the identity of the law enforcement officer who made the data search along with the legitimate law enforcement reason for the search,” — Ryan Duffy, police chief
What’s Next
Governor Dan McKee announced a statewide pause on new LPR installations and ordered a 60-day review of automated license-plate-reader technology, a move that could affect future drone deployments. The review, conducted with the Rhode Island Police Chief’s Association and the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, is expected to produce statewide standards for data retention, access, and oversight.
Newport’s pilot program will serve as a test case for how airborne surveillance can be integrated into emergency response while navigating privacy and governance challenges.
