Flock backlash grows as San Diego keeps its cameras

The big picture: Local activists and some city leaders pushed for Flock alternatives, but so far those efforts have gone nowhere.

• The city quietly signed a new deal with Flock late last year.
• After Axios revealed the deal, the Privacy Advisory Board asked to be more involved in evaluating surveillance technology, but so far no changes have been made.

Other local cities like Chula Vista also use Flock, and smaller cities have allowed the Sheriff's Department to install them.

• They're also in use at private businesses and shopping centers, according to KPBS.

Threat level: Some people have posted pictures on social media of Flock cameras being damaged or destroyed.

• A local man also says he spent a month in jail because Flock falsely linked him to a carjacking.

Zoom out: Flock has over 120,000 cameras across the country, the company tells Axios.

• Advocates say the cameras help police quickly track down criminals, making cities safer.
• Opponents say they're a form of constant surveillance that infringes on residents' civil liberties. Some have even turned to sabotaging the cameras.

Zoom in: Some police officers have been investigated over allegations they misused license plate reader data for personal reasons.

• Three Arizona cities said this week that they're looking into officers' use of the cameras, including one instance in which an officer is suspected of using them to track down his wife.
• In Reynoldsburg, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus, two officers resigned last week amid an investigation into misuse. An internal investigation revealed that one officer had used the tech over 40 times to track down a former domestic partner, per local reporting.

How it works: Flock and other automated license plate reader cameras are placed on streets and highways and use AI to capture and store information like car license plates, car make and other features.

What's happening: Mistrust and upheaval is leading communities nationwide to abandon Flock.

• In Lago Vista, a community near Austin that went for President Trump by a 20-point margin in 2024, city council members unanimously voted last week to end its contract.
• Denver cut off Flock in February after intense backlash. It's now contracting with Axon to operate its automatic license plate reader system, but with new rules around data retention and sharing info with federal authorities.

The latest: Flock said Thursday that it's improving its privacy, security and accountability features.

• It's making misuse detection mandatory for all customers, and cutting default data retention settings to one week from 30 days in some places.
• The company tells Axios via email that the changes "come following a year of listening to customers, communities, and civil liberties groups and build on Flock's impact" in aiding about 1 million police investigations last year and helping find about 10,000 missing people.

The other side: In response to Thursday's announcement, DeFlock, a national organization that tracks and advocates against Flock cameras, posted on X: "No guardrails. No regulations. No 'only if they really need to' pinky promises. It's a 4th amendment violation. Full Stop. They are coming down."

• DeFlock also tracks when governments end or reject contracts or deactivate cameras, tallying 23 instances since July.

Yes, but: Even some liberal officials say Flock and similar systems can have benefits.

• Austin, Texas Mayor Kirk Watson, a Democrat, said in May that the tech could have helped police more quickly track down three suspects tied to a citywide shooting spree.
• The city ended its contract with Flock in June 2025.

What we're watching: How Flock keeps responding to the growing pushback.