Denver license plate readers raise mass surveillance concerns
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Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
Councilmember Sarah Parady says every time she learns more about Flock's license plate reader system, she grows more alarmed.
The big picture: The concern prompted her last week to call on Mayor Mike Johnston to shutter the cameras in Denver after audit logs showed data collected may have been used to assist federal immigration authorities.
- Parady worries about people's privacy and potential misuse, which could violate city and state laws.
Why it matters: The powerful cameras are sparking a larger conversation over mass surveillance, and whether more guardrails, including new laws, should be enacted to protect people's privacy.
State of play: Parady is alarmed by federal authorities under President Trump, who's empowered agencies like ICE and has threatened Johnston — a Flock supporter — with arrest over the city's immigration polices.
- She's not the only one with concerns: The Institute for Justice launched a nationwide campaign last month to halt the use of automatic license plate reader cameras in its "fight against warrantless mass surveillance."
The latest: Flock announced last week it would pause a pilot program with two federal law enforcement agencies after its ALPRs were found to have violated Illinois state law.
- Meanwhile, a task force convened with the Denver City Council and the mayor's office in August met for the first time to brainstorm possible legislation to manage how surveillance systems operate.
Flashback: The Denver City Council in May voted down a $666,000 extension for Denver police to operate 111 Flock cameras at 70 locations across the city after Johnston withdrew support.
Yes, but: The mayor's administration unilaterally approved a new contract with the company in July worth $498,500, just below the threshold requiring council approval, Parady said in a statement last week.
- The mayor's spokesperson Jon Ewing tells us Johnston "is working toward a balanced solution that keeps this vital public safety tool in place while protecting the rights of all Denverites."
Between the lines: Data collected by Flock cameras was accessed in immigration-related national searches more than 1,400 times between June 2024 and April 2025, Newsline reported.
- Denver police say they turned off the national search feature in April and are adding guardrails, including requiring "reason codes" for searchers to ensure proper use.
- More than 100 law enforcement agencies, most of which are in-state, have access to DPD's database.
What they're saying: "If you don't trust the police department to do their job by the rules, Flock is not your issue," founder and CEO Garrett Langley, who visited Denver to meet with city officials in July, told us.
- Langley told us he believes his tech, used in more than 6,000 cities, is a cost-effective tool to increase public safety.
What's next: Johnston's office says a "larger" agreement with Flock will be presented this fall.