Story perspectives

Massachusetts Judge Orders Flock Camera Location Disclosures

9/7/2026

Center

Governors Restrict Flock

In September 2026, governors, legislators, activists and courts in several states moved to limit or scrutinize Flock license-plate cameras.
The moves were presented as bipartisan, with governors and courts issuing statements that stressed verified policy actions rather than partisan debate.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said he would welcome bipartisan legislation to ban Flock cameras statewide.
A Massachusetts Superior Court judge ordered disclosure of state police license-plate reader locations and logs.

Left

Governors Clampdown

In September 2026, governors, legislators, activists, and courts across multiple states moved to limit or scrutinize Flock Safety’s AI-powered license-plate reader cameras.
Broad public outrage and bipartisan grassroots activism are pressuring officials to curb the cameras’ privacy violations.
Flock Safety operates about 120,000 cameras scanning roughly two billion license plates each month.
Police used cameras to stalk ex-lovers and monitor abortion seekers, and ICE accesses network.

History

Historical Context

In 2015, the New York City Council enacted a law capping license-plate reader data retention at 30 days, curbing municipal surveillance. The ordinance, championed by Mayor Bill de Blasio and the ACLU of New York, limited the NYPD’s 1,200 cameras and required quarterly public reports. Today, 2026 bipartisan moves in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts echo that precedent as legislators and courts confront Flock Safety’s 120,000 cameras scanning two billion plates monthly. The legacy suggests that state-level restrictions could force nationwide redesigns of AI-driven surveillance networks, reshaping law-enforcement data practices and public-trust frameworks.

1 of 3

Governors Restrict Flock

In September 2026, governors, legislators, activists and courts in several states moved to limit or scrutinize Flock license-plate cameras.
The moves were presented as bipartisan, with governors and courts issuing statements that stressed verified policy actions rather than partisan debate.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said he would welcome bipartisan legislation to ban Flock cameras statewide.
A Massachusetts Superior Court judge ordered disclosure of state police license-plate reader locations and logs.

1 / 3