Flock Safety license plate scanners face growing privacy scrutiny

In short: More cities and states are moving to limit license plate scanning after reports that police used Flock Safety’s network to track protesters and other people.

What's going on

Flock Safety sells automated license plate recognition, or ALPR (cameras that read and record license plate numbers, like an automatic “note taker” for passing cars). The company’s tools are widely used by law enforcement, but they are drawing more criticism from privacy advocates and some local officials.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a digital rights group, said it found examples of police using Flock’s ALPR network to watch protesters and activists. One example it cited was the Delaware State Police, which ran searches in March 2025 with reasons such as “DxE Protest Suspect Vehicle,” referring to animal rights activists linked to Direct Action Everywhere and protests tied to factory farms.

EFF also pointed to a case involving the U.S. Border Patrol. It said agents used the network to look up a driver who made a gesture at Border Patrol vehicles, and later charged that person with assault on a federal officer.

At the same time, since the start of 2025, more states and cities have passed laws meant to curb the use of surveillance technology. Police leaders have defended ALPR, saying it helps solve crimes, and pointing to its use in major cases, including the 2024 attempted assassination of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Flock Safety continues to grow. It says it is trusted by more than 5,000 communities and 4,500 law enforcement agencies across 49 states. The Los Angeles Police Department, for example, reportedly has 1,500 vehicles equipped with Flock scanners and access to about 120 fixed Flock cameras across the city.

What to watch

Expect more local debates about where these cameras can be placed, how long plate data can be kept, and who can search it. For regular people, the key question is whether tools built to find stolen cars can also become a way to track lawful activity, like attending a protest.

Source: Financial Times