Flock cameras prompt local pullbacks and privacy debates

techJul 15, 202651118

Junction City, Oregon police asked the city council to approve a 90-day trial with Flock Safety to install eight license‑plate readers inside city limits, with Chief Waddell saying the cameras could help recover missing people and protect the community. The department said cameras could be installed this fall and estimated $3,000 per camera annually, $24,000 a year for eight cameras, and that a successful trial could lead to a 12‑month contract despite no line item in the current city budget. Opponents including Ky Fireside, co‑founder of Eyes Off Eugene, warned that the system creates sensitive location data that can be shared with third‑party vendors and federal agencies. State lawmakers recently tightened rules in Senate Bill 1516, which restricts access, storage and sharing of license plate data and bars routine sharing with federal agencies or out‑of‑state recipients except in limited circumstances. The Junction City proposal follows a string of local pullbacks: Eugene and Springfield signed then ended Flock contracts in 2025, Los Angeles ended its contract, and the city of Newport announced it will remove Flock cameras and not continue its pilot program. The debate now centers on whether municipalities will approve short trials or remove installed cameras as privacy rules and local opposition shape decisions about wider deployment.

Maya k.

@icyprincess.bsky.social

Using ai and complaining about flock cameras is like complaining about animals being killed for food by throwing farm layed eggs at someone's house. Those things aren't directly contradictory, but they are kinda weird to combine.

377h ago

The Liberal BoJack

@thelibbojack.bsky.social

Y’all really think it’s a coincidence that they’re pushing data centers, Meta glasses, and Flock cameras all at the same time? I know literacy rates are crashing, but come on. Post anything here: interactink.vercel.app

216h ago

The Liberal BoJack1

The internet was more fun when you could just post. InteractInk is a FREE anonymous social platform with no accounts, no profiles, and no follower counts. Try it now: interactink.vercel.app #uknews #Bloomscrolling #webdev #uk #unitedkingdom #London #greaterLondon #Glasgow #Wales #Scotland #ios

Concerned Citizen1

No, they are tracking us.

Elizabeth Chou

@reporterliz.bsky.social

And an LAPD official just said the Flock cameras are still recording data, but the LAPD doesn't have access to it, due to the expiration of the contract. The official it's stored in the cloud, and "nobody has access to that data."

1314h ago

Quoting this

Funranium (AKA Phil Broughton)74

Nobody at LAPD at has access to that data or *NOBODY*? You will have to forgive me for my lack of faith in Flock’s ethics and infosec.

Eileen Clancy 🧿21

"nobody has access to that data" 😉

Elizabeth Chou5

And Flock has assured that no one on their end has access to the data, the LAPD official says. bsky.app/profile/repo...

Ev from Felt Lips

@borissentme.bsky.social

Very optimistic about getting Flock cameras out of my town after the city council meeting tonight.

118h ago

Late Night Anti-Fascists

@latenightafa.bsky.social

NEW July 14 2026 - Greer, SC Two Upstate South Carolina police officers (Cpl. Kareem Lynch and Officer Sebastian Echeverry) have been fired after authorities say they misused Flock cameras.

413h ago

Raymond Wilton

@raymondwilton.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... The surveillance grid is tightening everyday - flock cameras - always-on glasses - facial recognition at the supermarket, self-driving taxis that will lock their doors and take you to the police station if the Al decides it should do that.

32h ago

Washington Privacy Organizers

@wa-privacy.net

Almost 20 people testified against Flock ALPRs at yesterday's Renton City Council meeting, starting at about 7:20 Renton shut off their Flock cameras earlier this year, but is considering turning them back on ... (1/2) youtu.be/zK6PKiFGBWc?...

14h ago

I'mjustagirljm 🩷🧡🤎

@justagirl52.bsky.social

Good... ....With all these Data Centers being built & Flock cameras being installed, plus digital pricing & all the new '27 vehicles having on board cameras & surveillance that reads facial recognition that are installed, what makes you think why so many Data Centers are being rapidly built? Hmmmm?

313h ago

Luna

@lunalore.bsky.social

I would never advocate destroying government property but it's hard for me to get worked up over dismantled Flock creeper cams www.alxnow.com/2026/07/14/a...

314h ago

Good Trouble

@good-tr0uble.bsky.social

LAPD hits pause on Flock surveillance cameras due to 'serious concerns around civil liberties and privacy' — as the backlash continues to grow www.techradar.com/vehicle-tech...

24h ago

Myk Saiten

@myksaiten.bsky.social

I guess just any cop can access the flock cameras. What could go wrong

29h ago

snflunky.bsky.social

@snflunky.bsky.social

www.reddit.com/r/ACAB/s/fgu... From the ACAB community on Reddit: Two Upstate police officers fired over alleged misuse of Flock cameras

10h ago

The One

@tuckfrump.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy

#peterthiel #palantir #politics “ WOW: Americans are taking it upon themselves to cut down Peter Thiel’s Flock cameras, which collect all of our information without our consent and sell it to third parties. Share so everyone knows what not to do!” […]

11h ago