Flock Safety surveillance cameras create privacy and security concerns in U.S. cities
Flock Safety license plate reader cameras deployed in U.S. cities including San Antonio are raising privacy concerns. Residents worry that vehicle and owner identifying data collected by the cameras could be sold or shared with immigration authorities, while oversight mechanisms remain unclear.
What happened
Flock Safety license plate reader cameras have been deployed in public areas across U.S. cities including San Antonio, Texas. The cameras, which are fixed to poles and powered by solar panels, scan and record license plates, vehicle make, model, and color of every passing car.
The cameras are used by local police, private businesses, malls, homeowner's associations, and smaller towns. The company claims the information collected includes details that identify the vehicle's owner, and residents express concern that data could be passed to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents or otherwise sold.
Reported impact
San Antonio residents have expressed concerns about government surveillance and data overreach, questioning who collects and controls the data from unaccounted cameras. Residents worry about sensitive identifying data being shared, sold, or leaked, with some describing the cameras as data harvesting points rather than crime-fighting tools.
Index analysis
Flock Safety cameras operate in a legal grey zone as they are partly private but also used by law enforcement. The cameras can collect identifying information beyond license plates, raising questions about data security and oversight mechanisms.
Governance controls
While some companies using the cameras are identifiable, others remain difficult to trace. The lack of transparency about camera deployment and data handling has led residents to call for removal of the cameras and greater oversight of their use.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.