Widespread Backlash and Vandalism Target Flock AI Surveillance Cameras Across U.S.
Flock, a surveillance company valued at $8.4 billion, is facing significant backlash across the U.S. due to its AI-powered automated license plate readers (ALPRs). The company has installed 120,000 cameras in every U.S. state except Alaska, with 7,000 law enforcement agencies (40% of national police departments) using its system. While Flock claims its cameras aid in a million criminal investigations annually, critics point to widespread misuse, including police officers illegally tracking romantic partners, assisting ICE in surveilling undocumented immigrants, and tracking individuals for abortion-related investigations or minor offenses like cannabis possession. This has led to both political opposition, with cities banning the cameras, and vigilante vandalism, where cameras are being destroyed or re-angled. Flock has responded with reforms, such as flagging anomalous searches and reducing data retention to seven days, but critics argue these changes are insufficient. 
