Full Breakdown
Flock Cameras Face Nationwide Scrutiny Over Astroturf Campaigns and Privacy Concerns
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Alleged Astroturf Campaign and Growing Legislative Pushback
A nonprofit, Neighbors for Strong Communities, ran a text-message and AI-generated email drive that urged Knoxville, Tennessee residents to submit pro-camera letters to county officials. Stay-at-home mother Ashley Smith exposed the scheme, and the Knox County commission subsequently voted to cancel the Flock contract. Federal legislators introduced the No FLOCK Act, the Flock-Off Act, and the Protection Against Mass Surveillance Act, targeting federal funding for automated license-plate readers (ALPRs).
Background & Context
Flock Safety, founded in 2017, markets AI-enabled ALPR cameras as “unobtrusive” public-safety tools. By early 2026 the company had installed more than 120,000 cameras nationwide. The devices capture still images of passing vehicles, read license plates, and record time, date, and location for police queries such as stolen-vehicle alerts or missing-person cases.
Data & Statistics
- A 2026 YouGov poll showed 46 % of respondents opposed ALPR use while 38 % supported it.
- In Knoxville, former at-large Commissioner Larsen Jay received eight pro-camera emails that shared similar language.
- Flock’s original retention policy kept records for 30 days; it now advertises a seven-day default period, though jurisdictions may extend it.
Official Statements & Responses
- Flock says its partnership with the nonprofit was limited to “resident-engagement” and that the campaign was independently managed.
- Mayor Eric Genrich of Green Bay (Wisconsin) maintains that ALPR cameras remain a core public-safety tool.
- Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) warned that federal grants should not fund “a surveillance state.”
- Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Michael Cloud (R-TX) co-authored the No FLOCK Act, which would withhold transportation funding from states that do not limit ALPR scope.
Criticism & Opposition
- Craig Aaron, co-CEO of Free Press, called the Knoxville effort “very much an astroturf project.”
- Saira Hussain, senior staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, noted contracts often allow indefinite data searches, citing a Virginia town where Flock data was queried 7 million times in a year.
- Mayor Mike Wiza (Bridgewater, VA) expressed uncertainty about auditing Flock-collected data after contract termination.
On-the-Ground Reports
Residents in Knoxville, St. Clair Shores (MI), West Lafayette (IN), and Kewanee (IL) have voiced privacy worries. In Kewanee, Mayor Gary Moore defended the cameras after two stalking cases were solved, while acknowledging “a real possibility” of misuse. Daniel Farr of St. Clair Shores demanded removal, saying, “If we want it removed, I want them to remove it for us; that’s their job.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Flock’s website claims all AI-generated drafts were signed off by residents, yet former commissioner Larsen Jay called the submissions “form letters.”
- The company says it does not sell consumer data, but the EFF notes some municipalities have shared anonymized data with city departments, raising questions about long-term retention and third-party access.
Verbatim Quotes
- “One of the concerns of the people with the Flock cameras is: Can we trust you?” — Ashley Smith
- “You’re talking about literally one of the most unpopular technologies,” — Craig Aaron
- “We really have no way of auditing where the Flock data goes once it’s collected,” — Mayor Mike Wiza
What’s Next
- The No FLOCK Act and the Flock-Off Act are slated for committee consideration in the coming weeks.
- Several municipalities, including Bridgewater, VA, and Sheboygan, WI, have terminated contracts and are evaluating data-deletion procedures.
- Flock has announced new “audit assistance” features and a default seven-day retention period, but independent audits have yet to be scheduled.