1. It's warrantless, dragnet tracking
Flock photographs every car that passes — not suspects, everyone. With roughly 90,000 cameras mapped nationwide and about 20 billion scans a month, the system reconstructs the daily movements of tens of millions of people who are suspected of nothing, usually without a warrant. [State of Surveillance]
2. The data flows to ICE and federal agencies
An Illinois audit found Flock let Customs and Border Protection search state cameras in violation of state law. [GovTech] In Bend, Oregon, federal officials queried local data within weeks of install. [UW Center for Human Rights] A California class action alleges Flock shared state plate data with federal agencies roughly 1.6 million times. [State of Surveillance]
3. It has been used to target and punish
A Texas officer used the nationwide network to track a woman suspected of self-managing an abortion across multiple states. [EFF] EFF also documented more than 80 agencies running discriminatory searches against Romani people, and the system being used to track protesters and people seeking reproductive healthcare. [EFF]
4. It's a security liability
In November 2025, lawmakers urged the FTC to investigate after stolen police credentials exposed the system to potential hackers. Centralizing billions of location records in one vendor makes a single breach catastrophic. [Sen. Wyden / FTC]
5. Communities are already saying no
Between August 2021 and May 2026, 82 Flock contracts were terminated across 28 states. Dayton, Ohio bagged all 72 of its cameras; Eugene and Springfield, Oregon ended their programs; and many more are reconsidering. [State of Surveillance]
An honest note on the law
The constitutionality of ALPR networks is still being litigated. In early 2026, a federal judge ruled Norfolk, Virginia's network did not violate the Fourth Amendment; the plaintiffs are appealing, backed by civil-liberties groups. We think persistent, suspicionless tracking should be unconstitutional — but we present the ruling honestly because the fight isn't over. [Courthouse News]
Frequently asked questions
+ Does Flock share license plate data with ICE and federal agencies?
Yes. Audits and lawsuits have repeatedly documented federal access. An Illinois state audit found Flock let Customs and Border Protection search state cameras in violation of state law; in Bend, Oregon, CBP made well over 100 queries in roughly three weeks; and a California class action alleges Flock shared state plate data with federal agencies about 1.6 million times.
+ Can police search Flock data without a warrant?
In most deployments, yes. Officers can typically query the system without a warrant, and reporting has documented searches tracking protesters, people seeking reproductive healthcare, and individuals across state lines — including a Texas case targeting a woman suspected of self-managing an abortion.
+ How many Flock cameras are there?
The crowdsourced DeFlock project has mapped roughly 90,000 automated license plate reader cameras across the U.S. Flock says it is used by more than 5,000 law enforcement agencies and captures around 20 billion vehicle scans every month.
+ Are Flock cameras legal under the Fourth Amendment?
The law is unsettled. In 2025–2026 a federal judge ruled Norfolk, Virginia's 176-camera network did not violate the Fourth Amendment, but the plaintiffs are appealing and civil-liberties groups argue persistent dragnet tracking is exactly the kind of search the Fourth Amendment should constrain.
+ What can my community do about Flock cameras?
Communities can cancel contracts and pass ordinances restricting ALPR use. Between August 2021 and May 2026, 82 Flock contracts were terminated across 28 states. Our Take Action page has a step-by-step playbook for engaging your city council.
Convinced? Your town might already have these cameras.