Growing Backlash Against Flock Safety License-Plate Cameras Across U.S. Communities

The anti-surveillance project DeFlock—an open-source effort that maps automated license-plate readers (ALPRs)—now records 153 U.S. communities that have cancelled, deactivated, or suspended Flock Safety systems. That figure represents a sharp rise from the 95 communities listed when the tracker was first reported in July. DeFlock’s rapid growth reflects mounting public concern over the breadth of data collection by the Atlanta-based company’s cameras.

Newsweek

In the latest wave of decisions, Lynchburg, Virginia’s city council voted 6-1 to terminate its contract, ending use of 15 cameras and 55 gunshot-detection devices. Wylie, Texas’s council voted unanimously on August 25 not to renew its Flock agreement, with Mayor Matthew Porter noting potential investigative value but stressing worries about data storage and inter-departmental sharing. Asheville, North Carolina ended a contract covering 11 cameras after a 5-2 council vote, while the city continues to employ Axon-manufactured readers. In Virginia, Amherst and Bedford counties have suspended their systems, Appomattox County declined renewal, and Campbell, Giles, Charlotte, and Halifax counties have either terminated or paused use.

Newsweek

The controversy has entered the 2026 midterm political arena. Candidates in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Florida have publicly called for bans, funding restrictions, or warrant requirements on the cameras, framing the issue as part of a broader backlash against powerful technology firms and AI-related data concerns. At the federal level, Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Representative Eric Burlison of Missouri introduced the “Flock-Off Act” on September 2. The bill would prohibit federal funding for Flock cameras, require removal of federally financed devices, and give recipients 180 days to cease operation.

Newsweek

Garrett Langley, CEO of Flock Safety, has asserted that the company’s ultimate aim is public safety rather than a dystopian surveillance state. DeFlock counters that the expansive data collection threatens privacy, while law-enforcement supporters argue the technology has become an effective tool for identifying vehicles linked to crime and investigations.

Newsweek