Amid increasing public unease with their products, Flock adds additional safeguard to its camera systems
By Josh James
August 14, 2026 at 4:36 AM EDT
Flock Safety, the maker of license plate readers by the same name, is placing new restrictions on its products in an effort to calm growing concerns about the cameras.
Flock cameras read license plate numbers and compare them to a database of plates connected to criminal activity, looking for matches. Supporters argue they've delivered result in the form of recovered stolen vehicles, arrests, and rescued missing persons.
Lexington first began using the cameras in 2022, and now has 125 of them located throughout the city.
Map of the locations of Flock cameras in Lexington (851x649, AR: 1.3112480739599384)
Flock Safety has since touted expanded uses for the cameras, leading the ACLU and other critics to worry aloud about the potential for mass surveillance and warrantless tracking of law-abiding citizens. That's accompanied a rise in protests and acts of vandalism as a national backlash is taking shape.
CNN reports recent cases of police resignations and arrests for alleged abuses of the camera system, including efforts to stalk exes or romantic interests, has added to the growing skepticism surrounding the devices.
Flock is now tightening one policy regarding its audit tool, which is used to flag abnormal search behavior. Case numbers will now be mandatory to justify any searches conducted using the systems.
Lexington first began using the cameras in 2022, and now has 125 of them located throughout the city.
Map of the locations of Flock cameras in Lexington (851x649, AR: 1.3112480739599384)
Flock Safety has since touted expanded uses for the cameras, leading the ACLU and other critics to worry aloud about the potential for mass surveillance and warrantless tracking of law-abiding citizens. That's accompanied a rise in protests and acts of vandalism as a national backlash is taking shape.
CNN reports recent cases of police resignations and arrests for alleged abuses of the camera system, including efforts to stalk exes or romantic interests, has added to the growing skepticism surrounding the devices.
Flock is now tightening one policy regarding its audit tool, which is used to flag abnormal search behavior. Case numbers will now be mandatory to justify any searches conducted using the systems.