Hi neighbors,
There’s been a wave of news lately about Flock Safety’s license plate camera systems—lawsuits, audits, and local controversies from Virginia to Maine. I pulled together a quick roundup of the most notable stories. For those who prefer watching instead of reading, here is a short Instagram video worth watching:
1) Small town, big surveillance (VCIJ/WHRO)
Bridgewater, VA (pop. 6,600) had just five Flock cameras—yet agencies across the U.S. queried its data 6.9 million times in one year. Read »
2) Norfolk drivers tracked hundreds of times (NBC News)
A lawsuit says Norfolk’s 176 Flock cameras logged one driver 526 times in four months—raising Fourth Amendment questions. Read »
3) Border data concerns at University of Arizona (AZPM)
Faculty and students demand answers after reports that Flock data was accessible to border enforcement agencies. Read »
4) “End all crime” claim backfires (Techdirt)
Flock’s CEO said his company could eradicate crime in 10 years—even as cities like Oak Park and Evanston cut ties over privacy violations. Read »
5) Iowa rollout paused (Iowa Public Radio)
Coralville officials halted new cameras after residents raised concerns about vague search justifications and lack of oversight. Read »
6) Syracuse University sparks debate (CNY Central)
Eight cameras are being installed on campus. Experts warn data could aid immigration enforcement. Read »
7) Illinois city hesitates on renewal (Yahoo/Daily Southtown)
Blue Island weighs renewing its contract after Oak Park and Evanston terminated theirs. Officials seek tighter data-sharing assurances. Read »
8) Maine town raises alarms (Portland Press Herald)
Wells residents protest their police chief’s push for Flock cameras, citing civil liberties and a troubling ICE contract. Read »
Closing thoughts
Each of these stories reflects the same tension: local leaders frame Flock as a tool for safety, while residents, advocates, and sometimes courts raise alarms about privacy, oversight, and federal access. These debates matter here in Mountlake Terrace too, as our community decides what kind of systems we want—and what values we’re willing to risk.
Save the Date: September 25
Flock is scheduled to be back on the Mountlake Terrace City Council agenda on Thursday, September 25. I’ll send another newsletter once the official agenda is released, but this will be an important meeting to show up for and make public comment.
Thanks for reading,
Dustin